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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| MQM to counter MMA in Sindh |
| 2004-07-02 |
| In wide-ranging talks last week between General Pervez Musharraf and leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the two sides have agreed to counter the influence of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) in Karachi. Insiders say this means the MQM will be given a âfree handâ, to deal with the MMA threat. Sounds like the gentle sounds of AK fire will continue to soothe Karachites to sleep. If the Jihadis and the MQM really do go all out against each other, it would turn Karachi into another Mogadishu. Whatever happens, given past history, I am sure this will end up backfiring on the Pak establishment somehow. Sources say it was in the wake of this decision that the Sindh government banned the entry of MMA central leadership into Karachi for a âpeace marchâ, using riot police to ensure that the alliance workers cannot show strength last Sunday. For his part, the recently nominated Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim defended the police action and said the MMA would not be allowed to take law in their own hands. âA peace march is needed in Balochistan or in the NWFP, more than in Karachi,â he was quoted as saying. Sources said there was complete unanimity of views between Musharraf and the MQM despite the partyâs apprehension lately that certain forces within the establishment want to destabilise the relationship. The meeting took place the same day Zafarullah Khan Jamali was asked to resign in a dramatic move. Jamali has since been replaced by the PMLQ president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who will remain PM until finance minister Shaukat Aziz gets elected from a safe seat and is elevated to the slot. Sources say the MQM endorsed the presidentâs decision to replace Jamali. âThe federal politics is not the MQMâs headache until it does not impact it. The party wants to retain its hold in urban Sindh and would go along with anyone who can give it a free hand to do so,â says an observer. The MQM wants the authority to tackle its bete noire, the MMA as well as other religious extremists which they believe are increasing their influence in Karachi. âMMA is playing the role of the political wing of organisations like Al Qaeda and local militants groups. We told the president that they have to be tackled with an iron hand and he agreed with that,â a party leader told TFT. Party leaders conceded that until the meeting with General Musharraf they feared that some elements within the establishment who allegedly conspired the two attacks on President Musharraf and an attack on corps commander Karachi Saleem Hayat, may be behind the attempts to weaken the MQM. Interestingly, unlike the PPP breakaway faction, the MQM has not publicly asked General Musharraf to retain his position as army chief, though insiders say the party has assured him of his full support on whatever decision he might want to take. Now, with the meeting behind them, the party is sure that there is no likelihood of an operation against them in the near future. The MQM is also happy that General Musharraf has reposed his trust in its governor, Ishrat-ul Ibad and there is no possibility of his replacement in the near future. Still, some observers believe things can change in Pakistan quite suddenly. Ibad has been the target of the opposition in Sindh that has accused him of protecting people responsible for political murders. Interestingly, while agreeing with the MQMâs assessment, General Musharraf has asked the party to placate the opposition in Sindh and dispel the impression that it has been involved in recent incidents of political violence. |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |