Altaf’s bid to ensure MQM London’s presence in Pakistan failed

ISLAMABAD: The detention of key Karachi-based members of Altaf Hussain-led London chapter of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) over three weeks back has crashed the interim organisational structure it had put after successive letdowns by his old sworn loyalists.

By constructing his coordination committee inducting some key figures from Karachi and others from overseas, Altaf Hussain has tried last month to have a presence in Pakistan but it turned out to be a hopeless effort immediately after the Sindh administration placed Prof Hasan Zafar Arif, Kunwar Khalid Yunus, Amjadullah Khan, Momin Khan and Zafar Rajput under detention.

Some of them led by Prof Hasan Zafar could address only one presser in which they severely attacked MQM Pakistan head Dr Farooq Sattar and Pakistan Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal. They were picked up before they could hold their second news conference. After that, the MQM’s London chapter was back to square one – failing to have its presence in Karachi.

Thus, the woes that gripped Altaf Hussain after his August 22 incendiary anti-Pakistan tirade came back with a bang. The London chapter is now limited to issuing only denials and contradictions to what is said or alleged about it in Pakistan by different politicians. But on the ground meaning in Karachi and Hyderabad, it has none to represent it.

With its sidelining and marginalisation because of Altaf Hussain’s follies, it appears that the MQM is up for grabs. Even former dictator General (R) Pervez Musharraf is being touted as the principal actor, who could lead it by unifying all the MQM factions.

After his exit from power, Musharraf did try to test political waters but found that they were too turbulent and chaotic where he could not survive. The party he founded has been a big nonstarter since word go. It has already evaporated.

The biggest question for the moment is: How will he lead a united MQM when he can’t pick up the courage to fly back into Pakistan for fear of arrest and trial in criminal cases including the most grave high treason charge, which is at present dormant but would be revived the moment he would return.

As the Supreme Court made it clear that it has not restricted Musharraf’s departure abroad by placing his name on the Exit Control List and the government thought it a convenient way to let him fly away, he took no time and left Pakistan not to return. Since then he has stated in so many words that he can’t come back due to the court cases. He had sought six weeks for his foreign treatment but this period has passed long time ago. At the time, he had depicted his ailment too serious, but as he has been abroad, nothing is heard about its treatment.

By and large, Farooq Sattar-led MQM Pakistan has been apparently acceptable not only to the powers that be but all political parties mainly because of its ditching Altaf Hussain. Mustafa Kamal’s PSP has turned out to be a big disappointment as it has miserably failed to rope in any good number of the MQM rank and file.

Having no prospects for any meaningful success in the political field doesn’t mean that Musharraf has no penchant to play a leading role in this arena. It is a different story that he has no chances of success in the presence of established political parties with some of them seeing opposing him harshly.

The only option he has is the MQM, which too is a difficult one because it doesn’t seem happening that it will suddenly come under his command the moment he will express his intention to head it. “As I had been the president of Pakistan how I could restrict myself to a regional party like the MQM; I am not interested in this party and want to do something for the betterment of the Urdu-speaking community; I have sympathy for the Mohajirs but no interest in the MQM,” Musharraf has told a TV channel. While being the dictator he did everything he can for the MQM, but while being out of power and in the political wilderness, he can’t be an asset for this party.