Why did MQM split?

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is now a ‘divided house’. Although politics is a game of possible, things are really looking hard for the party to bounce back. In just three years, it has split in Pak-Sarzameen Party (PSP), MQM-Pakistan and MQM-London. The cracks in the party started soon after 2013 general elections. Who is responsible?

The MQM-London unfortunately has not learnt a lesson from the PSP episode. They pushed the MQM into a kind of situation on August 22 in Pakistan, for which only they would have to take the responsibility of its consequences. Hence, the MQM split and split again within six months. It clearly shows MQM London chapter's disconnect with some ground realities.

Senior leader Nadeem Nusrat may be right when he said, “Altaf is MQM and MQM is Altaf.” But, then a question arises: where is that MQM, formed 32 years back. It is in complete disarray and these differences like to widen in the coming months.

Nusrat's latest statement calling for the release of Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar can trigger a new controversy and would only multiply his problems, as he is facing some serious cases including May 12, 2007 killings. He has not only asked for his release but also demanded that he should be allowed to work as a mayor. Has the MQM-London succeeded in creating confusion between Waseem and MQM-Pakistan leader Dr Farooq Sattar?

Waseem, who is also facing a defamation case filed by the Rangers over his statement few months back, even had made a plea to DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar to 'forget and forgive’, is in serious trouble. If London put his weight behind him, it would only add to his misery.

Why MQM-London wants his release in particular. Do they want to break him from Sattar, and see him as their new leader in Pakistan.

London's statement is quite contradictory to its earlier demand that all MQM MNAs, senators and MPAs must resign. But, the same plea has not been made for the party mayor, deputy mayors, chairmen, deputy chairmen and councillors.

Thus, MQM-Pakistan, at the moment looks in control of the situation as far as legislature and elected representative in the local bodies are concerned. In the last one week, since London had taken a clear line against Farooq Sattar, one MNA has sent his resignation to Altaf.

It does not mean that it’s a smooth sailing for Dr Farooq Sattar. He and his team know there are difficult days ahead. So far, they have managed to keep things under their control despite differences over the content of the last resolution moved in the Sindh Assembly.

The MQM-London is trying to draw a line between legislatures and local bodies and trying to avoid the possible resolutions which can come during the forthcoming sessions of local bodies, particularly in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas.

During the elections of mayor, deputy mayor and others, Farooq Sattar and his team did not face any difficulty and managed well.

In the last few years, the differences within the MQM had increased particularly over London's relations with former PPP president Asif Ali Zardari and ex-interior minister Rehman Malik. The MQM-Pakistan was not in favour of joining the government after Zulfiqar Mirza's 'mini operation’ through Uzair Baloch gang. The MQM-London wanted to bargain with the PPP, in order to get some relief in return.

After the murder of Dr Imran Farooq in 2010, the two PPP leaders and one of the former spy chief decided to withhold the progress after the arrest of three suspects.

Perhaps, that could be one of the reasons why MQM sought 'internal opinion’ about joining the government but the majority reportedly 'voted' against it, which surprised the MQM-London.

Differences deepened during the 2013 elections. Pakistan Rabita Committee sent a report to London that 'all is under control' and predicted landslide victory in urban Sindh. However, on the polling day, London started getting reports of 'possible surprises’ from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) alliance. The biggest shock came for them when London got a report that the party had lost in one of the polling stations in Azizabad area, its headquarters area.

The JI's surprising decision to boycott polling in the afternoon not only upset the PTI but also the JI workers and voters. Till this day, it’s a mystery what went wrong between the JI Amir and the JI Karachi.

The MQM bounced back and retained 90 per cent of its seats, but the result upset Altaf Hussain and for the first time, he might have realised his political disconnect with Pakistan. He could have saved the party by keeping cool during the May-19 general body meeting, which laid the foundations of the Pak-Sarzameen Party.

Altaf badly misread the present army establishment, led by army chief General Raheel Sharif, when it finally decided to clean up all militant groups, whether outlawed or within the political parties.

Altaf Hussain’s biggest disappointment came when even the PPP decided to form a government on its own in Sindh and Nawaz Sharif decided to form central government without the MQM.

For the first time in the history of MQM, none of the top leaders of PPP and PML-N visited Nine-Zero in Azizabad after 2013 elections.

Thus, it appears that in this frustration he started making some very harsh speeches against the establishment and at times directly against the army. He refused to listen to MQM-Pakistan leaders’ concern and also ended his relations with his own governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

The MQM-London was concerned about his speeches, and after one live video address, in which he sang and danced, the two chapters agreed that in future they would not take the risk of allowing him live video chat with workers.

The party paid huge price because of these speeches and all episode from Saulat Mirza's video statement to fast-pace investigation in Imran Farooq murder case came as consequences. Finally, the party in Pakistan decided to part ways after August-22 anti-Pakistan slogans.

The MQM-Pakistan has now surrendered its claim on Nine-Zero in Azizabad, the residence of Altaf Hussain, and the place once known as the political ‘qibla’ of Muhajir politics. It now wants the government to hand it over its official secretariat, Khursheed Memorial Hall. Both these places had been sealed by the Rangers, though without any legal cover.

Farooq Sattar can also face difficulties in the party's organisational setup. Rabita Committee Pakistan so far is intact while many of those heads and deputy heads of sector and units had already been divided even before August 22. Prior to this situation, the MQM itself had conceded to authorities by abolishing its Tanzeemi Committee and its last head was Imad Siddiqui, who in intelligence files was head of its militant wing.

The MQM-Pakistan also has a tough challenge ahead over reorganising its other wings particularly Labour Division, Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation, Women and Student wings, Information Department, etc.

Muhajir Rabita Council (MRC), which comprises Muhajir elders, is also in a fix. Ideologically, they consider Altaf Hussain as the founder and Quaid, but at the same time they also support Farooq Sattar and MQM-Pakistan for saving the party from getting it banned.

The biggest disappointment for the MQM-Pakistan has come from the establishment, which still sees it as a suspect. Despite reassuring statement of Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the ground situation is not helping them in getting any kind of relief.

The MQM alleged militants are too divided. Those in jail and in the custody of Rangers and intelligence agencies are looking for relief, irrespective of the fact that which faction comes to their rescue.

The MQM Overseas too is divided and while one faction is still with London, the others now look towards Pak-Sarzameen Party and MQM-Pakistan.

What about MQM founding members, some of whom are still alive. Among the 1978 batch of All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO), Saleem Shahzad, Aminul Haq, Ahmad Saleem Siddiqui and Ms Kishwar Zehra are with the MQM-Pakistan, while there is some confusion about Tariq Javed. Ms Zareen Majeed is abroad but has not announced her support yet, either for London or MQM-Pakistan.

It is also time for all the living founding members to revisit their politics, which had even cost lives of its founding chairman Azeem Ahmad Tariq and founding secretary general Dr Imran Farooq.

It’s the second and third batch of the MQM, which looked completely divided in three factions: MQM-London, MQM-Pakistan and PSP, which has hurt the party most. Afaq Ahmad was the first to revolt and though could not made inroads despite his strong stance on Muhajir politics, was initially supported by Aamir Khan and hundreds of sectors and unit in-charges in 1992, but Muhajir electorate rejected him.

Anis Qaimkhani, Anis Advocate, two strong voices of the MQM in Hyderabad and Sukkur also belong to the second batch. They, along with leaders like Raza Haroon, Iftikhar Ahmad, Waseem Aftab, are now with former mayor and chairman of PSP, Mustafa Kamal.

Nadeem Nusrat, Mustafa Azizabadi, Wasey Jalil, Mohammad Anwar, who belong to the second batch, are with the party founder, Altaf Hussain, while some senior leaders like Mrs Nasreen Jail, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Faisal Sabzwari and others are so far with the MQM-Pakistan.

Thus, it’s quite clear that from the organisational point, MQM now stands divided. The only test remains to be seen is the fate of the party in the next general elections. Whoever will win would get the mandate of being true representatives of Muhajirs, if not of whole urban Sindh.  

The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang