Such are the ways of politics in Pakistan, probably Musharrafs most unacknowledged achievement, was to bring the MQM into the system. With it’s own Governor and dominating the Provincial Governement, the partys profile has slipped, even more so since the rise of the MMA, which has made surprising inroads into Karachi.
So what’s next for the party?
Re: Whatever Happened to the MQM?
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*Originally posted by Zakk: *
Such are the ways of politics in Pakistan, probably Musharrafs most unacknowledged achievement, was to bring the MQM into the system. With it's own Governor and dominating the Provincial Governement, the partys profile has slipped, even more so since the rise of the MMA, which has made surprising inroads into Karachi.
So what's next for the party?
[/QUOTE]
MQM is noting more then a bunch of thugs trying to use race and region to dominate local government. Altaf Hussein is nothing more the foreign agent, he is getting paid millions of dollars to keep Muslim and Pakistan hates each others, bring more differences, more fighting and killing.
So what does that make Musharraf who is dealing with MQM?
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*Originally posted by Imdad Ali: *
So what does that make Musharraf who is dealing with MQM?
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A smart politician. MQM didn't hurt anyone more than it's constituency and the city of Karachi. There is no doubt that Urdu Speakers have gotten a raw deal in Sindh and have suffered..but we need to move beyond that.
I don't think it is such a bad thing that MMA is making inroads or that MQM has a prominent position in Sindh. The largely educated Urdu speaker electorate will hold them both accountable.
Re: Whatever Happened to the MQM?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zakk: *
With it's own Governor and dominating the Provincial Governement, the partys profile has slipped, even more so since the rise of the MMA, which has made surprising inroads into Karachi.
[/QUOTE]
You give the MMA far to much credit.
I went to Karachi twice after General Musharraf took power and before the formation of the MMA, and I can tell you that the greatest support for Musharraf was from the Urdu-speaking community, even though he has never played the ethinc card ever. Unlike the foreign-based cowardly politicans that ruled Pakistan before him Musharraf's government was the first that contained people not based on ethnicity or region but largely on merit, which is what the MQM and Mohajir community had always been demanding since the 1980's. Hence the MQM's "Mohajir card" has been wrenched from them by default by the Musharraf administration, and it's meritocratic and pro-devolution policies.
Malik, regardless of the cause of the decline in the MQM’s vote bank the beneficiary has been the MMA. After all, the Lota league did not win a single National Assembly seat from Karachi while the provincial ones it won were because of independants. Here is an interesting article on the problems the MQM is facing, considering it’s one time ability to paralyse Pakistans econonmy, it’s present position implies the Party is not exactly in the best of states.
Here is a good article on the MQM:
*“Hussain has realised that one cannot run an army without the presence of a commander,” says a senior MQM ideologue. “Even the PPP and PML(N) have been badly affected by the absence of their leaders. It creates a lack of party discipline, reflected clearly in the performance of the MQM’s coordination committee, which has failed to work satisfactorily.” *
“A few years ago, MQM leaders, ministers, MNAs, senators and MPAs used to travel on motor-cycles, even on buses. Now there are lines of brand new cars, mobiles phones and a whole new change in attitude. It has become a mainstream party like the PPP or PML,” said a disgruntled party member.
It is very easy to get corrupted in Pakistan, especially when you get in to the government. Almost every party, no matter how clean it started out, when it gets to be in power, becomes corrupt.