Why we reserve an especial hatred for the MQM? – by AZ
There is little wonder that in a country where secular nationalism has been colonized from within by Islamist hegemony, the MQM is widely hated. There has been more hate material against the MQM in the past few months than there has been against the Taliban in the past 20 years – lending deafening cadence to already popular prejudices, carving arguments, charges, and innuendos against the MQM and its constituency in stone.
Why?
One, because the MQM is the last bastion of secularism in a country being increasingly occupied by religious radicalization. Hence while contesting against the MQM, the ANP and the PPP have no qualms in allying themselves with the SSP whereas Imran Khan is already a known ideological sympathiser of the Talban and the JI.
Two, because by dint of the MQM’s middle class composition, the ruling elite of Pakistan –landowners, tribal leaders, top soldiers, and senior bureaucrats- hates the party’s guts. Pakistan’s establishment therefore holds an inherent bias against the MQM – regarding it among the distrusted quasi-outsiders if not as the enemy within.
Three, the party does not buy into the historical expressions of the Muslim and Arab and Central Asian conquerors’ power that form the overwhelming narrative in much of the rest of country. This aberration exacts a high price in what is at heart a very Islamist country.
While the MQM is a fascist, intolerant, and violent organization it has been widely abetted by the State of Pakistan when doing so suited the ruler of the day. That includes Nawaz Sharif, Pervez Musharaf, and Asif Zardari in succession. Much as the Pakistan Army uses the Jihadists and then chastises them when they get out of line.
The currently ongoing operation was initially a great success and could have been successful in terminally discrediting the MQM. However, for all the good it brought to Karachi, it has been rendered subjective by the company of too much generalized vitriol against the MQM’s support base and the employment of hackneyed and dubious methods a la accusations of a populace’s political representation, that the MQM embodies, being the enemy’s (RAW) agents. Instead of being seen as partners in nation they were accused of representing Indian interest, engendering the return of déjà vu revulsion in discerning minds. It’s a pity that an operation that delivered and promised much should go awry.
How do you expect a populace to vote that feels beaten and, more importantly, pushed to edges of the national life?
I see that as an opportunity lost just when the MQM had been reduced to the last shreds of credibility.
Opportunity lost? Yes, because I don’t think that the MQM –led by a megalomaniac whose sanity is subject to reasonable doubts- has any real desire to seriously mend its ways and now it will have much less pressure to do so too. A depressing prospect, indeed, that makes me fervently hope to be wrong.
Obliteration of secular and modern image of the country had started soon after the emergence of the country on world map by religious parties. However, those influences were not strong enuf to change the character of the society. Those days the society was so vibrant that the country was an envy for it’s neighbors. At the time when Russia attacked Afghanistan , countries like USA , Saudi Arabi and few more Middle East countries contrived to use indigenous manpower to defend Afghanistan ; to make it happen supply of arms to Afghan forces was required and Pakistan assumed the role of a conduit to facilitate the supplies to Afghanistan. It was also found necessary that religious angle should also be introduced to fire the passions of fighting Afghan forces ; ” Jehad ” was introduced as a religious duty of every Muslim to defend the country. Zia ‘s obsequiousness was too readily available to Saudis and U.S.. To ensure supply of manpower it was found necessary to spread the Islamic culture in the Madressas where students were radicalized and when ready sent to Afghanistan to join the fighting force. Even after the end of Afghan war the religious extremism continue to spread thru thousands of Madressas. Our political leaders encourage this phenomenon becos it serves their interest especially when these zealots are called to vote for them in the general elections. This sad story continues !