Going beyond media trial of MQM remains a challenge

ISLAMABAD: The MQM has been facing serious allegations, some falling in the category of even high treason, but neither the establishment nor any of the successive governments could formally charge the party or its top leadership with such allegations in any court of law.
As against the recent allegation of MQM’s Indian connection, the MQM chief Altaf Hussain was alleged after 9/11 of writing a letter addressed to British Prime Minister Tony Blair seeking disbandment of ISI besides offering his party’s services to ground human intelligence within Pakistan and Afghanistan. During 1990s, the MQM was accused of “Jinnahpur” conspiracy but it was never proven in any court of law.
While the present government is approaching London to get something concrete against the MQM following the BBC’s recent story on alleged MQM-Indian nexus, in 2011 the then home minister Sindh Zulfikar Mirza had alleged in a press conference that the MQM chief had approached Tony Blair after 9/11, offering spying for London and seeking disbandment of the ISI.
The said letter was also available on the Internet. However, the MQM has always termed the allegations baseless and untrue.A copy of the alleged letter shows Altaf Hussain seeking disbandment of the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in return for offering his party’s services to ground human intelligence within Pakistan and in Afghanistan for the British and other western intelligence agencies. The alleged letter also sought foreign interference into Pakistan’s domestic affairs, political and administrative.
It is pertinent to mention here that after the 2011 Zulfikar Mirza’s press conference, this correspondent had approached a top spymaster of the country to ascertain if Altaf’s purported letter to Tony Blair was genuine or not. In response, the spymaster said the allegation and the alleged letter was true.
It is said that besides the last PPP government, the establishment had knowledge about the alleged letter even during the military rule of General Musharraf but neither any formal inquiry was ordered nor any the MQM or its leader was formally charged in this matter.
Instead, the successive governments as well as the establishment have been using the MQM when it suited them whereas in other times the Muttahida has been alleged for anti-state activities and conspiracies.
The following is the operative part of the alleged letter written on 23rd September 2001 by Altaf Hussain to Tony Blair but remained un-inquired as yet:
“Hon. Tony Blair M P
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
10 Downing Street
London W1
Dear Prime Minister
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) categorically stands against all sorts of terrorism, religious fanaticism and violence, and favours genuine democracy.
We can provide the following:
1. Many demonstrations in Karachi in favour of the International Community combating terrorism within five days notices after this agreement being signed, putting hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of Karachi (provided the permission of the Government of Pakistan is secured). First demonstration is scheduled for 26th September 2001 in Karachi, the port city of Pakistan.
2. Provide unlimited resources for humint (human intelligence) throughout the towns and villages in the province of Sindh and the province of Punjab to some extent, to monitor the activities of fundamentalists and Taliban led organizations, and also to monitor the activities of “Madrassas” (Religious Schools).
3. To ensure select groups to penetrate Afghanistan in the form of aid workers so as to enhance the Western Agencies intelligence information capabilities.
In return for this assistance, we would seek assurances to achieve the following minimum objectives, which would be held essential for ourselves and for the good of Pakistan as a whole. Our objectives are as follows:
a) Equitable participation in the governance of the province of Sindh and the Federation as partners, genuinely.
b) Equitable participation in all spheres of life, including education, employments, army and administration.
c) That we would need local policing consisting of Muhajirs and Sindhis.
d) That full autonomy be granted to the provinces with Federation keeping only three subjects; Defence, Foreign Affairs and Currency control; and in these sectors equal representation from all provinces be guaranteed.
e) ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence Agency) the secret agency must be disbanded otherwise the ISI will continue to produce many Osama-bin-Ladens and Talibans in future.
I hope that you would be kind enough to seriously consider my offer for the benefit of Pakistan, should any geo-strategic and commercial relevance of Pakistan left for the United Kingdom and the Intelligence Community.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
With best wishes and warmest regards.
Yours sincerely
Altaf Hussain
Founder and Leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).”