Does Silencing MQM Not Mean Promoting Extremism?

When MQM opposed the pact with Sufi Muhammad (head of the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi_TNSM) and consequently refused to vote for Nizam-e-Adl-Regulation law in the parliament in April 2009, a political worker said, “Now MQM should be mentally prepared to pay a price for this from the military establishment”. Now, the way MQM is being hit below the belt by the para-military force (Rangers) in Karachi proves that MQM is definitely paying a very heavy price. 

It is fact there are several liberal and secular-minded political parties in the Pakistani politics, MQM became more prominent because of its very clear and consistent stand against the religious extremism in the country. From the 9/11 tragedy to the recent Karachi bus attack (in which over 40 Ismaili Muslims were killed), MQM always raised its voice against each and every terrorist attack and demanded to root out the extremism especially from Pakistan.

In the recent past, Pakistan had to face the worst form of terrorism from the religious terrorists in which over 60,000 people lost their lives. In the scenario where most of the leaders (both from the government as well as the opposition) were either defending the suicide attacks (by terming them as the reaction of the US-led drone attacks) or avoiding the required condemnation, it was only MQM`s leader (Altaf Hussain) who not only strongly condemned the Taliban terrorists explicitly, but also mobilized people against them.

Whether it was the attack on Malala Yousuf Zai or the Army Public School tragedy in Peshawar, MQM gathered thousands of people in Karachi to condemn the TTP`s brutality and also to express solidarity with the victims and their families.

Similarly, when almost all the political and religious parties were opposing a military operation against the banned organizations, it was only MQM`s Altaf Hussain who not only maintained his stand against the radicalization, but also staged a public rally to support the Army operation against the terrorist groups.

However, the present scenario is depicting a quite strange picture. MQM (the only supporter of army operation against the extremist groups) now has become the biggest victim of the same.

While all the critics of Zarb-e-Azb in tribal areas (including political parties and the government) have come on one page for supporting the Karachi operation exclusively targeting MQM. It is also important to notice that practically the Army`s operation (Zarb-e-Azb) against the Taliban groups seems to have remained limited only to the extent of press releases issued by the ISPR, but the Rangers-led Karachi operation focusing MQM is on full swing.

According to MQM, thousands of its workers and leaders have been arrested, over 100 became the victims of enforce disappearances, and dozens were extra-judicially killed. 

Consequently, most of the party offices are closed right now, and its political activities have got badly affected. On top all, after the months-long un-announced ban on the telecast of Altaf Hussain`s speeches through the Pakistani media has now been judicially confirmed by the Lahore High court.

In contrast to these, all the pro-Taliban parties and even the banned outfits are freely operating everywhere in the country. From Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to the Red mosque`s Mulla Abdul Aziz and, similarly, from the Amir of Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (Hafiz Saeed) to the ASWJ`s Aurangzeb Farooqui, all are free to propagate their extremist thoughts all over the country without any fear of being arrested.

The banned groups are so safe from the Karachi operation that they are openly staging rallies in the city for lauding the law-enforcement agencies over their actions against MQM.

It is on record that after the APS tragedy of Peshawar, a Pakistani Muslim woman posted her video on the social media in which she criticized the government and the media for not exposing the Taliban terrorists to the general public (http://www.zemtv.com/2014/12/17/this-girl-will-made-you-speechless/). She demanded them to show all the images of the victim kids on the national media so that the people of Pakistan could come on one page against the terrorists.  

However, instead of motivating people against the religious extremists, Pakistani agencies aired the alleged confession of an ex-MQM worker (who was controversially convicted and awarded death sentence) from the death asking people to distance themselves from Altaf Hussain and MQM. That episode clearly exposed the establishment`s policy as well as the consequent direction of its actions.

Furthermore, the way Pakistani establishment is repeatedly accusing MQM of being RAW`s (Indian agency) agent and working against Pakistan looks to be not only a way of preparing grounds for more stern actions against its leadership, but also possibly reactivating the anti-India Jehadi groups in Pakistan again.  

Question is, if the military and political authorities try to silence and suppress the liberals using the state machinery, would the extremist groups help them counter the increasing radicalization in Pakistan?

The Pakistani authorities should keep this in their mind that victimizing MQM will not only deepen the sense of isolation and deprivation in the Urdu speaking (Muhajir) community, but would also in turn help the radical groups be stronger and spread all over the country. And reining in more powerful monsters once again would surely be a nightmare for them.