Do We Know The Worth Of A True Leader?

“You were handed over the responsibilities after instructions that you would not misuse powers, but decisions were made on the basis of personal liking and disliking”. “I have been running this movement for 35 years. I have suffered imprisonment, experienced brutal torture and solitary confinement. Ultimately, I went on exile. Despite all, I am busy in my mission work.”, said the founder and chief of MQM Altaf Hussain while addressing the gatherings of MQM works and officer bearers in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Through his speech, on one hand, he tried to make his workers and office bearers realize their mistakes. On the other, he warned them of being expelled from the party if not reforming themselves at the earliest. Frankly speaking, such bold speeches are never given by the top leadership of other political parties to reform the party just due to the fear that its second or third cadre of leadership would not tolerate it. But, it appears that MQM`s founder is ready to take any risk for the purpose of reforming his party.

To tell the truth, Altaf Hussain is the only leader in Pakistani politics who founded a students` organization for their rights, and later on, formed a political movement despite being from the middle class. Traditionally, such important steps are assumed to be “honored” by the landlords and Army Generals in lavish drawing rooms of big bungalows or palaces. Secondly, he did not nominate any “big names” belonging to elite class in the elections for provincial and national assemblies, but always preferred the middle and lower mower class people. More importantly, his struggle was against the rotten and corrupt political system of landlords and industrialists backed by the establishment. These were the crimes of Altaf Hussain which put him on the target point of establishment and its allied forces.

So, to penalisze him for these severe “crimes”, evil conspiracies were hatched against him and his newly planted movement MQM. In this context, even the state machinery was used in the name of “restoring peace” which have, by now, taken thousands of lives of people just on the “crime” of following Altaf Hussain. The martyrs also include Altaf Hussain`s elder brother and nephew. Today too, MQM`s founder is facing a proxy war not only inside, but also outside Pakistan from the same rival forces especially in the situation when he is not medically fit. In such a scenario, is it not a point of regret for the followers that some of their intentional or unintentional deeds are adding to their leader`s difficulties? Is it the way a true leader should be followed?  

MQMers need to learn lesson from the common people of the country who have been in search of a sincere leader for decades. They seem to be even begging to God just for dedicated and honest leadership. But, their search is not over yet. It might be said that it is easy for the people of Pakistan to just get together and choose one of them as their leader. But, this is not so easy as it looks to be. In fact, people need a true leader, not a “Choudhry”. Because, if someone is chosen as a leader, not necessarily the person so selected eventually turns out to be a real leader. He may be a true “Choudhry”, but not a leader at all.

Pakistani political history is full of the leaders chosen and trusted by common people, but all of them eventually caused a great disappointment for the nation. Considering this, should Altafists not be proud of their leader who has devoted his whole life only for them? But, very unfortunately, on one hand, the entire Pakistani nation is complaining about the breach of trust by their leaders, on the other hand, a true leader Altaf Hussain feels compelled to quit leadership due to dissatisfaction over the performance of his some works and office bearers. Very sad!

It is also a part of the history that, in early 90`s, some MQM`s workers and office bearers were trapped by the misleading thoughts that they were actually the people who made Altaf Hussain a leader. Owing to this misconception, they reconsidered their decision and announced to make someone else their leader. But, what happened then? What did the time prove? Who actually turned out to be the true leader before the world? Of course, Altaf Hussain! That made this very clear to all that it is not merely in the hands of people to make someone a leader as per their own choice, but in fact, whoever has been destined by God as a leader for people matters the most.  

So, MQM`s followers must keep this in their minds that a true leader is a gift of God for them. It is not in their hands to find another sincere and charismatic leader like Altaf Hussain so easily. Therefore, they need not only to realize the value of their leader they have been bestowed upon, but must also strictly follow him the way he wants. Otherwise, these will be the followers who would be the losers, not the leader.