Do Not Hijack MQM`s Mandate!

The NADRA`s verification report on NA-256 brought about a storm in the Pakistani media`s tea cup. All the TV channels are now-a-days busy on expressing their “valuable” opinions on it that eventually end up with maligning MQM. Anyway, as per the report, NADRA examined 84,748 votes of 67 polling stations of NA-256 of which only 6,815 votes were accurately verified. In addition to other aspects, the report also stated that 57,642 votes could not be verified due to the bad thumb impression and poor quality of ink as well as the ballot papers. However, despite the clarification in writing from the NADRA, the media started terming the unverified votes as the bogus or fake votes. Some of the anchorpersons declared properly verified 6,815 votes as only genuine votes, while the reaming 77,933 (84,748-6,815) were considered as fake. Moreover, by generalizing this scenario not only to the whole constituency, but also to entire Karachi, they are also questioning the MQM`s mandate.

For instance, if their view is considered valid, then were only 6,815 votes cast in those 67 polling stations? If it is assumed to be true, it means that on an average, the voting turn out in those areas was only 4.36 percent? Does it seem logical? As per the Election Commission of Pakistan, the overall voting turn out all over Pakistan including Karachi was more than 50%. Being more specific to NA-256, its turnout was 56.23%. Considering this, how is possible that only 4.36% (If 84,748 was 56.23%, then on an average the total number of votes would be 156,275 in these 67 polling stations. Consequently, 6,815 out of this total would constitute only 4.36%) votes were cast there?

Frankly speaking, had there been so low turnout in any of MQM`s dominated constituencies, would it not have become notably obvious to the whole world especially in the situation where all the Pakistani news channels were focusing only Karachi elections? So strange it is that there was so low voting turnout in NA-256, but the media remained completely silent?? We know that on the by-elections day in Karachi, less number of people came out to cast their votes which was observed by all the media. At the end of the day as well, the turnout was reported very low between 20 to 25%. In other words, if less number of people had come out for casting their votes, it would automatically become apparent and would result in the low voting turn out. Taking into account this, how is it possible that the turn out in NA-256 remained as low as 4.36%, and, very surprisingly, the media remained blind of it?? Can such a big “favor” ever be expected from the Pakistani media for MQM??

In this context, the only possible excuse that the MQM`s rivals can give in order to defend their view is that the genuine voters were really 6,815, but the remaining 77,933 people were present in the line of voters just to cast bogus votes in favor of their candidate (Iqbal Muhammd Ali Khan). Then, the question arises, if there are so many supporters of a candidate in that constituency, will there be any need for them to cast fake votes additionally? In fact, if they just cast their own votes for their candidate, will that not be sufficient for the victory of their favorite candidate?? Then, why try to question the MQM`s mandate?

Before the general elections of 11^th May were held, the hype was on its peak that the general elections of 2013 would be the first fair and free elections of the history of Pakistan. It was not only the media-men, but also the political parties, analysts, Elections Commission and even the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan were making the same claim. Very interestingly, no body objected to their claim. All of them very easily digested the on-record confession that all the elections held in the last 65 years were rigged or engineered by the establishment (The Asghar Khan case is the true evidence of the same).The question is, why did any of the champions of the democracy, justice and Islam raise their voice on keep cheating the Pakistani nation for over 6 decades in the name of fair and free elections? Did the media ever take up and discuss the fraud electoral process of the last 65 years?? Did it ever question the beneficiary ruling parties including PML-N and PPP in the same way as MQM over the matter of NA-256? Not at all! Rather, the same beneficiary political and religious parties of the rigged or engineered elections are still respected and considered as the only democratic and main stream national parties.

It is also on record that during the election campaign for general elections of 2013, three political parties, i.e., ANP, MQM and PP were not given the leveled ground. Taliban not only announced to target them, but also practically hit them by their terrorist attacks that resulted in the loss of hundreds of their workers and supporters. As a consequence, none of these parties could run their election campaign in the same way as PML-N, PTI, JUI-F, PML-F and JI did. Very unfortunately, none of the champions of democracy, Islam and justice raised their voice on the pre-poll rigging in the elections. Can an impartial person ever consider such type of elections as free and fair for the victim parties? However, in spite of the Taliban`s terrorist attacks, not only the Election Commission, but also the Supreme Court of Pakistan expressed their satisfaction over them. The question is, if in the next elections, Taliban or any other terrorist groups target PML-N, PTI, JI, JUI-F during their election campaigns, would the SC, ECP, media and political parties declare those elections fair and free in the same way?

That was the Taliban`s terrorist attacks that very badly affected the PPP and ANP`s election results. However, despite the terrorism, MQM not only managed to retain its traditional seats, but also secured some new seats too. That was one of the best performances of MQM in the elections. The question is, could any of the Taliban-supported parties ever think of giving the same performance in the elections if they had been targeted by Taliban in the same way as MQM? Truly speaking, not speaking of performing similarly, they cannot manage to retain even one third of their present seats.

As a matter of fact, it has now become a customary in Pakistan to always target and malign MQM. No matter they are the anchorpersons, political analysts, columnists or political and religious parties, all of them leave no stone unturned to stigmatize MQM and its leadership. On the issue of NA-256 too, they are just repeating their old game. All the anti-MQM forces know very well that even if re-elections are announced in NA-256, the results would not be different at all in the case of fair elections. Therefore, for the sake of robbing the MQM`s mandate, it is necessary that it is kept out of the elections either by the Taliban terrorists or through the use of state forces, or perhaps with a mix of both. Which options they select against MQM, the time will let us know.