In past MQM faced charges like the Jinnahpur plan; NRO benefited party
ISLAMABAD: The allegation of deep-rooted links between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of India are not new but institutions have been alleging this since the early nineties - still the party not only remained part of governments formed by all major political parties of the country but also ruled Pakistan and province of Sindh as a major ally of military government of General Musharraf for some eight years. Questions arise whether latest policy about MQM will remain intact or it will be changed again for some vested interests or ‘political reasons’.
These allegations started emerging against the then Muhajir Qaumi Movement led by Altaf Hussain in early nineties followed by a military operation in financial capital of the country in 1992 to counter MQM’s move of making a new country with the name of Jinnahpur. However, the allegation was later denied by army officials themselves, including one brigadier, Imtiaz (commonly known as Brg Billa), who remained part of the operation. The officials said that no maps of Jinnahpur were found from any office of the MQM and this was a mere allegation. The MQM was divided into two groups before start of the operation.
The Benazir Bhutto government in 1996 also launched an operation against the criminal elements in the party. The operation was led by Lt Gen (R) Nasirullah Khan Babar (Late) and was carried out by using police force famous officials like Shoaib Suddle at that time. The operation successfully eliminated many criminal and terrorist elements from the Pakistan’s biggest city and there were hopes that Karachiites would get back their peaceful city of 60s and 70s. However, PML-N government led by Nawaz Sharif included MQM in ruling alliances at the center and in Sindh. The situation, however, dramatically changed when General (R) Pervez Musharraf took over in October 1999 after imposing Martial Law and MQM became one of the major allies of this Chief-of-Army-Staff-led government. Suddenly, a killing spree started in the city and all the major characters of Sindh Police who took part in 1996 operation cleanup were killed. Interestingly, killing of hundreds of police officers was started only after General (R) Musharraf came into power.
MQM had been facing charges of playing in foreign hands to spoil peace in financial capital of the country since early nineties. MQM’s links with RAW were specifically highlighted by institutions in those days. However, Musharraf’s military government not only made MQM its part, appointed one of its top leaders as governor Sindh but also bestowed great benefits on MQM as well as powers in the province of Sindh. The story didn’t stop here. Under Musharraf’s NRO, more than 8,000 cases of killings, target killings and extortion were closed and record of the cases was destroyed. Hundreds of policemen were killed during Musharraf regime but the most interesting as well as mysterious facts remained that no efforts were ever made to sincerely investigate or arrest the killers during general’s regime. This very fact was also never properly highlighted in media. Despite all the allegations of MQM’s links with RAW and other foreign forces, it again became part of PPP’s governments in the center and in the province of Sindh following 2008 general elections.
During his Thursday’s press conference, former MQM leader and ex-Nazim Karachi Mustafa Kamal also repeatedly alleged that MQM’s top leadership had been working with RAW since long. He said that all those Karachi youngsters who received armed training in India went there on the orders of party chief Altaf Hussain.
Even in recent days, it’s not only Mustafa Kamal who is making this allegation. During last two years, almost every week, there has been a press conference or statement from Sindh Rangers or some specific Sindh police officials stating that they had arrested some people who belonged to MQM and were trained by RAW. These press conferences also revealed that all those arrested had confessed to their links with RAW. However, no such arrested persons ever produced before media in an independent environment for detailed interviews.
Latest show and more serious allegations regarding MQM’s links with RAW raise some basic question; whether political forces as well as the establishment are now serious about these allegations? Whether these allegations are again being leveled to achieve some momentary objectives? Will MQM be forgiven if it falls in line and to be used again as a tool to push political interests? If these allegations are true and institutions have strong evidences what kind of legal actions will be initiated? Is the latest policy about MQM permanent or it will be changed soon?