Altaf Hussain & The Required Sectarian Harmony!

In our society, there is always a gap between the common people and those of the ones who are called the religious minded people. As a result, there has always been an unannounced segregation of social responsibilities between the two classes. For the matters purely relating to the religion, only the religious scholars, priests, Molvis or Imam Sahiban are looked to for solutions. 
In contrast to it, the common people have been actively involving in the affairs belonging to the society, while the religious scholars have generally kept themselves away from these. But, whenever there emerged any dispute or dissent in a family or between any two groups of the society, people always sought help from the priests to resolve the same.

This is what that has been taking place for hundreds of years. But, the question is, if any difference of opinion arises between any two priests or religious sects, who would make them resolve it? Practically, we hardly came across a situation in which a common man played any role in helping the different priests, sects or religious parties in order to settle their disputes. Perhaps, this is one of the most important reasons why there are so many religious groups, parties or sects working in our society, despite that fact that all of them preach the same way of Islam which will take Muslims to the same common destination.

However, this common and long undone act took place when Mr. Altaf Hussain came into politics and founded MQM. Ever since, MQM came into politics, it has been working for religious as well as sectarian harmony. In 80`s, the sectarian violence was on its peak especially in Karachi. MQM, on the directions of its Quaid Altaf Hussain, left no stone unturned for the sake of easing the long-prevailing sectarian tension among the people belonging to two different sects. These are the results of  Altaf Hussan`s efforts that after the 80`s, not a single incident of a clash between the said communities has taken place unlike the past.

In the months of Rabi-ul-Awwal and Muharram-ul-Haram, all the MQM elected representatives and the members from the Co-ordination Committee keep in touch with the religious scholars and the priests of different Mosques and Imam Barghas. On special advice from their leader, they also become an integral part of the processions being held during these months. The annual Iftar meeting from Altaf Hussan at “90” for prominent scholars not only from the Muslims sects, but also belonging to the other religions has now become a tradition.        

In addition to all these, by considering the threat of any spreading sectarian tension in any part of the country, the MQM`s Quaid takes no time to call an emergency meeting of the religious scholars in order to nip the evil in the bud. In January 2013, taking into account the killings in Baluchistan on sectarian basis, MQM held a big gathering of religious scholars belonging to different school of thoughts in Jinnah Ground to deal with the new conspiracy of sectarian violence in the country. By the way, it is very interesting to know that MQM, despite have not emerged as a sectarian or religiously based party, has been making its undue efforts for sectarian and religious harmony in the country. But, none of the parties and groups which came up on the basis of sects, religion Islam or with the slogan of universal harmony performed their required role in this context.

Altaf Hussain`s efforts are not only limited to the brotherhood in the Muslim communities. He has also tired to bridge a gap between the Muslim and non-Muslim communities as per the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The MQM`s Quaid always raised his voice on the injustice against the non-Muslim minorities in Pakistan. He clearly announced the vision of MQM saying, “MQM believes in the principle of “live and let live” and considers all the people living in Pakistan belonging to various religions as equal citizens of Pakistan.” He said, “MQM does not want the term ‘minority’ to be used for non-Muslims, rather they should be considered as equal Pakistanis and given the same opportunities.” This is the reason vision and its resulted efforts of the MQM`s Quaid due to which the people from the Muslim and non-Muslims communities can easily be seen sitting together especially in all the important public gatherings held by MQM.

Therefore, it will be quite unfair not to give credit to Mr. Altaf Hussain and MQM who always go extra miles jut for the sake of bringing different sectarian and religious communities close together in the best interest of Pakistan. In fact, this is the kind of role that all the politicians as well as the civil society need to play for the sake of maintaining sectarian, religious, ethnic and political harmony in the country. That is exactly what that Pakistan has been lacking in for decades. 

May Allah save Altaf Hussain and MQM from all types of evil conspiracies against them and help them in bringing the needed revolution in the country so that all the people irrespective of their ethnicity, sec, religion or region can get equal rights and, consequently, can live together ....Aameen!