No objection to Rangers’ operation in Karachi: MQM

LAHORE

Central leader of Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Abdul Rauf Siddiqi has said MQM has no objection to the ongoing rangers’ operation in Karachi but, being the largest stakeholder of the city, its grievances should be addressed. 

“The year 2015 was really a testing phase for us, but despite all odds, MQM once again established its mandate in Karachi and proved that ballot is powerful than bullet, allegations of polls rigging and results manipulation proved wrong against us and Mutahida once again emerged as the major stakeholder in the city” said Abdul Rauf Siddiqi, a former home minister and central leader of MQM while talking to The News. 

Rauf Siddiqi, while responding to a question about the successes and failures in the current year stated: “There was no doubt that most of our objectives including remobilising the party organisation in other provinces and speeding up mass contact campaign couldn’t be fulfilled owing to the prevailing situation.” However, he said in the election arena whether it was by-polls or local government elections Mutahida proved its ballot strength. 

Rauf Siddiqi, while responding to a question whether MQM had any objection to the Rangers Operation in Karachi stated ‘No.’

He stated that the perception that MQM was against rangers presence in Karachi wasn’t true as it was Mutahida which openly extended support to the operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists and supported every initiative to purge Karachi of criminal elements. He said Karachi was the largest city of Pakistan and MQM wanted restoration of peace here which was only possible that all those elements which were sabotaging peace should be nabbed. He said this should be realised that MQM was the largest stakeholder in Karachi where it had 51 national or provincial assembly seats as well as the major chunk of district slots. 

The apprehensions or grievances of MQM should be addressed and negotiation process among the political parties must continue.

This is noteworthy that the year 2015 remained a highly critical and testing phase for MQM and name of its Quaid Altaf Hussein remained in news amid plenty of speculations about his future.

The first major bombshell on MQM this year came to surface after the last interview by Solat Mirza, once a front man of Altaf Hussein who a few days before his execution made some shocking revelations about his party leadership and stated that he had killed noted persons on the instructions of his party high command. On the other hand, MQM leadership denied its link with Solat and Babar Ghori, a senior MQM leader, who left Pakistan at a time when Mirza was revealing some secrets about Mutahida. 

Solat was hanged at Mach Jail on charges of killing KESC Chief Shahid Hamid in late 90s.

MQM leader Altaf Hussein remained in trouble as he was interrogated by British authorities over the charges of money laundering. He has been granted bail and matter is still under probe.

Besides, in Pakistan, MQM had to undergo a real test after rangers raided its central secretariat 90 (Nine Zero) and recovered arms, ammunitions besides arresting number of MQM activists.

MQM is considered the major suspect behind the disturbance of Karachi peace but when it comes to ballot, Mutahida once again proved its strength and silenced many critics. NA-246, the seat vacated by Nabil Gabol, MQM candidate Kunwar Naveed Jamil once again got over 90, 000 votes and defeated PTI ticket holder Imran Ismael with big margin. In local government polls, MQM emerged the biggest party with largest number of seats and the district heads of three political parties including PPP, PTI and JI were defeated.