Re: [Split discussion] Punjab vs rest
If you are going to keep emphasising how in Karachi there is a racist hatred for a particular ethnicity, let me tell you are not painting a very good image of a City and locals you claim to be so diverse and tolerant.
By constantly reinforcing that Punjabis are most ‘hated’ group in Karachi, you are automatically making 50% of Pakistani population harbour a very negative, unpleasant, racist and rigid image of Karachi and its residents. You cannot establish this perception and then go on saying no, no, no Karachi is this; Karachi is that; Karachi is heaven. Trust me this is not the first time I’ve seen Karachiite vaunting about prevalent grass root hatred for Punjabis. To me this is racism, and the more I hear about this racism, the more I lose my curiosity and interest in the City. People like you really don’t understand the damage you are doing to your own City by not just admitting these horrific things so openly and unapologetically, but by sublimely rationalising them in one way or another.
As with your stay at police station in 90s and the ever so tragic incident of confronting a Punjabi speaking police officer – let me tell you, there has been a massive flight/and merciless killings of Punjabis from Karachi in 90s. MQM has avenged poor Muhajirs traumatised by hearing Punjabi language at police station by merciless killing all the police officers who were involved 90s operation. I have no reason to doubt that vast majority of the slain officers were Punjabi! I do mourn their death and feel sorry for their families. They were just performing their duties.
As with present day Karachi, let me assure you thanks to racism there and people who rationalise it – Punjabis have no desire to come to Karachi, invest in businesses and buy properties there. So don’t worry Punjabis taking over Karachi. The money that could’ve been in invested in Pakistan’s largest metropolitan city is either moving to Islamabad/Pindi or going to Dubai or simply being invested in Lahore expansion schemes. Not that I am complaining.
I know language is such a touchy topic in Sindh. Everyone is having a big moan about their or others language in one way or another. I’m sick of that subject. So many of the deeply rooted insecurities are wrapped around the issue of language. So can’t be bothered to comment.
As with PTI becoming the next MQM – puhleeez! MQM was an illegitimate child of a dictator. Zia’s the one who created, funded and armed MQM in 80s to counter a political rival. Same way the cycle was repeated by another dictator to find political support to legitimise his rule. MQM was always designed to be a local militia. If no one could dare arm PTI in 18 years, it won’t happen now either. PTI is too large of a party with support all over Pakistan (and outside of Pakistan) to reduce down to a ghetto gangster organisation and start spewing ethnic hatred to maintain territorial dominance. PTI will simply lose electoral support and get diluted whenever Imran runs out of patience and does something incredibly self-destructive.
Just because Imran acts impatient, doesn’t mean he’s the type to run out of patience! He seems to appreciate the whole idea of thorny journeys and endless struggles more than anyone else in Pakistan. That’s an essential part of his infinite appeal.