MQM___The Conqueror Of Hearts!

Finally Imran Khan and other PTI leaders got their demand met when they were specially facilitated to visit Jinnah ground last Wednesday, April 8^th, 2015. Imran Khan went there leading a rally started from Hasan Square. Although there was an unpleasant incident at the Jinnah ground when some of the workers from the both sides quarreled and tried to fight with each other, but the overall the situation remained quite peaceful.

There had already developed so much heat over the PTI`s announcement to visit Azizabad and enter into Jinnah ground and the provoking language used by Imran Ismail, Faisal Vawda and Ali Zaidi added fuel to it. Pakistani media too was giving special coverage to this issue. A large part of the news as well as the talk shows were over the same matter. But, thanks to God, MQM leadership once again expressed its political maturity and adopted the policy of restraint. That was the reason why Karachi-ites avoided any clashes. Otherwise, the maliciously raised high temperature was enough to incite violence.

Question is, why was PTI so much bent on going to Jinnah ground and holding a gathering here? Were there no other grounds in NA-246 to where Imran Khan could address his workers and supporters? When yes, why did PTI make this a matter of life and death for it?

The way PTI insisted on showing its presence at Jinnah ground and then, at the eleventh hours, it changed the venue for its 19 April`s rally reminded of the establishment-patronized Haqiqi group of 90`s. In 1992, after Haqiqi group had been deployed in Karachi under military protection to replace MQM, they started taking over all those places which were famous because of MQM`s association. Though the Haqiqis broke into the city as a separate group, yet they occupied MQM offices and started using them as their own party offices. Then MQM`s public secretariat Al-Karam square was also left at their mercy. On top of all, they attacked Altaf Hussain`s house (90), tortured the elders, who were looking after it, and took away the vehicle used by MQM`s chief. All that took place when the Army was on roads apparently in the name of taking actions against those involved in violence.

Haqiqi group, despite having militarily taken over most of the areas of the city and made them as No-Go areas for MQM, completely failed to display the public support in its favor. Further, whatever workers` strength they showed off was limited to only their under–controlled areas like Landhi, Korangi and Malir. As a result, they were labeled as the party confined only to selected areas of the city. Thus, to offset this perception, they announced to stage a big gathering at T-ground situated that was situated at FB area, Karachi central.

It should be kept in mind that before the military operation in June 1992, MQM used to hold its all public gatherings at T-ground. Then first and biggest women`s convention too was organized at the same place in 1986. Truly speaking, before MQM`s inception, T-ground had no political value. But after its emergence, this ground became well-known and emerged as a political symbol of MQM`s popularity just like today`s Jinnah ground.

In short, the only objective of Haqiqi group to organize their program at T-ground was to give a message that it was as popular as MQM. But, even the common people knew very well that Haqiqi would never be in a position to beat MQM`s record here, and that such an attempt would only add fuel to the already prevailing tension in the city that may result in bloodshed. On the other hand, Haqiqis defended their decision claiming that they wanted to disperse the “fear” in the people by holding a Jalsa there.

Then,“respecting” their intention, Police as well as the Army personnel extended their undue co-operation and provided high profile security to the Haqiqi`s leaders during their visit to the venue for overseeing the arrangements for the rally. But, at the eleventh hours, they cancelled their program explaining that they did not want any clashes with anyone in the city.

Keeping in view what happened in 90`s during the military establishment against MQM, is the present issue of holding a rally at Jinnah ground by PTI not just the repetition of exactly what Karachi-ites witnessed from Army-backed Haqiqi group in the past? Just like Haqiqi group, PTI leadership also announced a jalsa at Jinnah ground with the same claim that it wanted to disperse the fear in people. Then, the date was announced, route was finalized, workers from all over the city were called, and thus, PTI leadership arrived at the venue under the live coverage from the Pakistani media. But, what happened? Let along removing the “prevailing fear” from Azizabad, they neither offered Fateha at the martyrs` memorial (as they had clearly purposed to), nor did they keep their words to stage their rally at the ground on 19 April.

Question is, if nothing of these had to be done, why did the PTI leaders make the political atmosphere so tense?       

Apparently, PTI badly wanted one more Zara Shahid Hussain to get sympathy vote or at least to reduce the votes to be polled in MQM`s favor on the election day. However, sensing the same, MQM immediately poured so much cold water onto the imminent sparking being fueled by the rivals. All the credit goes to MQM only for nipping the evil in the bud. Otherwise, PTI had done its job to cause one more 12^th May.

Here, it is important to remind that since the day Haqiqi group made T-ground controversial in 90`s, MQM left out that venue and choose Jinnah ground as a new location for its programs and never looked back to it again. Interestingly, ever since MQM took that step, T-ground lost its importance and has remained badly neglected place regarding political gatherings. Not a single political or religious party including Haqiqi group ever used that ground for any of their rallies. This clearly proved that the reason behind choosing T-ground by Haqiqi was not staging a public gathering there, but the political tussle with MQM.

PTI`s stubbornness to stage its Jalsa at Jinnah ground, was due to the same reason. Let me claim that if today (in 2015) MQM decides to put Jinnah ground and chooses a new spot for its future programs, Jinnah ground too would turn into a politically deserted location like T-ground, and MQM`s rivals would divert their attention to the new venue as in the past. Such an attitude obviously shows one very strong that that the military establishment is still following the same old policy to replace MQM bits its test tube babies.

All Altaf Hussain`s rivals including Imran Khan must keep this in their minds that occupying areas, offices, grounds and head quarter cannot help them be the apple of people`s eye. Establishment has already tried that recipe in the past, but so occupied places lost their importance without MQM. MQM`s previous unit and sector offices, public secretariat (known as 89) and T-ground are examples of the same. To gain public`s support, they need to win their hears just Altaf Hussain.

However, if still someone assumes that he can replace MQM with the full backup of military establishment, media and other anti-Altaf Hussain elements, then he should go ahead and try his luck. The time to come is surely going to reveal who will be the winner again….Insha Allah