Army reaction and the MQM dilemma

Has theMQMchief Altaf Hussain put himself and his highest decision-making body —the Rabita Committee—in amost difficult position due to his late night speech? Was there really a need for his address?
The army’s reaction is perhaps the strongest against him since the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif took over. What can be the possible outcome and where will the MQM go from here?
It all started with an unusual and highly provocative press conference of the controversial SP Malir Rao Anwaar. Known as “encounter expert”, he not only claimed the arrest of two RAW-linked MQM workers, but also behaving like a political leader demanded a ban on the MQM, calling it more dangerous than the Taliban.
The immediate reaction in the political circles and themedia embarrassed the police and the Sindh government. The Sindh government not only condemned his press conference, but also took disciplinary action.
The MQM Rabita Committee, after discussing the issue with the party chief, held a press conference and rejected all allegations of Mr. Anwaar, known for playing a leading role in the 1992 and 1994 operation against the MQM.
There was a general consensus in the media during prime time talk shows that police officerswere not supposed to issue political statements.
Everything was going well for the MQM until Altaf Hussain decided to address the party leaders and workers.
As his speech linger on and he started using some highly objectionable remarks, some MQM leaders started showing sign of nervousness.
Why he decided to address after the MQMpress conference is not known, but perhaps he thought it was too mild. But his address and remarks were too harsh.
Now, the burden is once again on the Rabita Committee to repair the damage.
As expected, the Rabita Committee came outwith a clarification that Altaf did not say anything against the army and only requested the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to do justice to the MQM.
This clarification was followed by an apology and one has to wait and see whether it will be acceptable to the army or not. If not, it can lead to a very difficult situation for the MQM and Altaf Hussain.
Whether Rao Anwaar’s unusual remarks against the MQM were his own or with the consent of his higher-ups, it has already put himin trouble. But, after Altaf Hussain’s speech he may not face any major disciplinary action.
In a situationwhere theMQMwas facing political isolation and recovered in the last election, the party could have taken the political advantage over the press conference of a police officer.
As I carefully heard Altaf’s address at home, my first reaction was, “Oh, no!” Why the leader of the country’s third largest party had to react in this manner and that too against a police officer.
There are three points in his speech which can have serious repercussions: 1, RAW; 2, asking party workers to get commando training; and 3, some of the remarks, which the army’s spokesman considered “unacceptable.”
After NA-246 and Cantonment Board elections, the MQM goodwill in the country has increased putting its opponents on the defensive.
After facing a crushing defeat, parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was looking for space as they have never faced such a humiliating defeat in Karachi, but after Altaf’s latest speech and the ISPR’s reaction the initiative has once again gone into the hands of anti-MQM elements.
The ISPR Director General Maj. Gen. Asif Bajwa stated: “This is unacceptable.”
He also announced legal action against Altaf Hussain on his speech, which may include a serious case.
It is true that in the recent past Altaf Hussain has extended his complete support to the army and remained in the forefront in supporting operation “Zarb-e-Azb,” and the National Action Plan, but at times his remarks not only created problems for himself, but also for the party.
It is difficult to say to what extent the armymay go, but in the past amessage was communicated to the MQM and Altaf Hussain to avoid issuing “irresponsible statements.”
Some of his speeches were even discuss at the high level meeting attended by the army chief the Sindh governor.
The MQM is passing through a difficult period within and outside since the 2013 general election. On the one hand, Altaf is facing a serious case of money laundering, on the other investigation into the murder of former MQM secretary general Dr Imran Farooq has also matured, though the London police have not pointed the finger at the MQM leaders. In Pakistan, Nine-Zero has been raided and the Rangers claim to have arrested some suspects involved in murder and extortion.
All credit goes to the Rabita Committee for not only leading the party to 2013 election victory in Karachi and Hyderabad, but also in the recently held NA-246 by-election and cantonment board polls.
The party’s central leaders, including those who have now been sidelined or have left the country for different reasons, did their job well. Yet, at times Altaf Hussain was not happy and at least three or four times disbanded the party’s central body. The question is why?
All this confused the party workers and supporters. Thus, it is very important for Altaf Hussain to pose complete confidence in his central body and let them make political decisions. He should address party workers occasionally or discuss issues with workers, but “off the record.”
Altaf Hussain and the MQM first need to come out “clean” in the cases pending against them in Pakistan and London.
They have to move forward, politically.
The demand for a separate province at a time when no mainstream political party is willing to support its demand can only satisfy its own constituency.
Unless the party does something extraordinary to “repair the damage,” I foresee difficult days ahead for theMQM. The party high command and Altaf Hussain must sit and discuss in detail the way forward, politically.
The writer is a senior analyst and columnist of GEO, The News and Jang.