Parties having eye on MQM dividends

ISLAMABAD: A number of key political parties are having a keen eye to pouncing on the “dividends” that may be produced by the disenchantment of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers from amongst millions of its followers due to the fresh round of challenges and bedlam it is confronted with.

These political forces are eager to cash in on any desertions in the MQM and are trying to attract them to their respective folds. But despite the worst crisis besetting the MQM, there have not so far been any large scale floor crossing that has significantly diminished its power in Karachi and Hyderabad.

They are gazing at 78 federal and provincial seats of Karachi and Hyderabad that the MQM had been winning with a thumping vote. Karachi alone has 20 National Assembly seats and 40 Sindh Assembly seats. Similarly, Hyderabad contributes 12 federal seats and 12 provincial seats. This is a huge tally for any political party.

These parties are undoubtedly desperate to make the most in the prevailing crisis, but they have not done any homework to create a support base in case of any massive exodus from the MQM, and its fragmentation into different factions. Their consistent harsh attacks on Altaf Hussain for his harangue against Pakistan and calls for arraigning him for his tirade have not spawned any instant support among people of Karachi and Hyderabad or triggered any defections in the MQM.

Among the political parties, the most eager to pocket maximum gains in case of any departures from the MQM are the Pakistan Sarzameen Party (PSP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) doesn’t seem much interested in such activity but would certainly love to get any windfall because of its nationwide policies.

The fundamental passion and objective behind the launch of Mustafa Kamal led PSP, which was fully backed by the “apolitical” nemeses of the MQM, was to decimate and nibble at the MQM strength. It did get some deserters in the beginning but this process stopped sooner than later as it turned out to be unable to attract more people at a fast pace.

In reality, the PSP is yet to take off and cause sleepless nights to the original party of its founder. Before Altaf Hussain’s latest bloomer that proved out to be the last straw that broke the camel’s back, the PSP’s activities have largely gone in the background as it was not receiving much from the MQM. Mustafa Kamal became quite active in the recent anarchic situation created by the MQM supremo, but did not obtain any significant public support.

The PTI, which bagged the second highest number of popular votes in Karachi after the MQM, has never paid any worthwhile attention to the mega city, having a large number of federal and provincial seats. Its organisational structure in Karachi is fraught with deep conflicts and tussles. Its senior office bearers even failed to win the contest of councilors in the December local government elections. Karachi doesn’t figure on the radar screen of Imran Khan as a place meriting his frequent visits. He pays very rare trips to the city and is always focused on Punjab, where he has not been able to rattle the ruling party. Whatever organisational setup the PTI has in Karachi is no match to that of the MQM.

On the other hand, the Jamaat-e-Islami has solid organisational paraphernalia and its Karachi leaders remain in touch with the people all the time, but somehow it has been miserably unsuccessful to rope in more voters. In fact, in successive elections, its vote bank has suffered downslide although Sirajul Haq is the only politician who is always on the move, speaking on burning issues endlessly.

The PPP leadership specifically the new Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, is putting in utmost efforts to create a mark in Karachi even before the present eruption hitting the MQM. Its organisational structure in Karachi hardly matters and is inconsequential. Its office-bearers were also routed in the last local council polls.

After the damage control exercise done by Dr Farooq Sattar, mainly distancing the MQM Pakistan from Altaf Hussain’s diatribe against Pakistan and presenting himself as the man in command who will be taking decisions, the party is trying to come to grips with the new hard situation and has so far remained a cogent, unified force to a great chagrin of its opponents, who are waiting in the wings to take advantage.