So, Well-Done MQM!

Finally, MQM has won the by-elections of NA-245 and PS-115 held in Karachi. This was not the first time MQM appeared victorious here. In fact, it has been comfortably winning them since it came into politics. However, after the new episode of allegations and the resulted media trial, it was politically necessary for MQM to go into the people`s court and get their support. And, of course, MQM made it once again.

PTI, which had been claiming to wipe out MQM from Karachi, once again failed to do that. In fact, due to the low turnout, it was a golden opportunity for it to make its long-prevailing dream come true. But, it lost to MQM such a way that the security deposits of its nominated candidates got forfeited. Thus, the recently held by-elections prove that no matter MQM sets a high target or a small one, its rivals cannot defeat it anyway.  

The most important aspect of these elections was the decision of Amjad Ullah Khan (PTI candidate from NA-245)`s to withdraw and join MQM. No doubt, it was the worst kind of shock PTI would have ever got in its political life. Whatever the atmosphere of competition PTI was trying to develop against MQM in NA-245, automatically evaporated following this news.

Further, the way PTI (Karachi) leadership reacted to this news, truly reflected the sort of humiliation it had got after its candidate`s decision. If, on one side, Naeem-ul-Haq was seeing possible pressure from MQM to Amjad Ullah, Imran Ismail, on the other hand, was calling him a coward. Ali Zaidi not only accused him of having been sold, but also used very abusive words for his former colleague. In fact, Amjad Ullah Khan did not use any insulting language against his party chairman Imran Khan like Mustafa Kamal did for MQM`s founder. He just expressed his grievances to the party head and pointed out to the weaknesses present in the party structure. Yet, the outburst from PTI was quite absurd. 

To see all this, I feel like appreciating MQM and its representatives who, despite having heard extremely provocative, abusive and even vulgar language for their beloved founder and leader Altaf Hussain from Mustafa Kamal and his other group members, did not retaliate reciprocally. They even decided not to appear in the TV talk shows where any member of Mustafa Kamal & co was present as they did not want to be indulged in any sort of heated discussion. Though many people including analysts criticized them over such a policy and urged them to come and respond to the rivals. Yet they kept on avoiding retaliation. So, hats off to them for this!

It is important to notice that the Pakistani media acted differently over the news of Amjad Ullah`s with drawl in MQM`s favor. The news channels did break the news, but they mainly seemed to be trying to find out any possible evidence which could show that the PTI`s candidate joined MQM as a result of a threat from it.

Interestingly, these were the same news channels which kept on declaring as the fall of MQM`s wickets whenever any of its member joined Mustafa Kamal`s group. Not a single time, they tried to find out if there was any pressure or trap behind their sudden and suspicious decisions.

Similarly, a female anchor person Fareeha Idrees expressed her displeasure over the decision of PTI`s candidate to join MQM. She also asked for holding accountable the person in PTI who had selected Amjad Ullah Khan as the party candidate. This was nothing, but an obvious distrust that Fareeha Idress showed over Amjad Ullah after his decision. Question is, did she ever express similar distrust over Mustafa Kamal and his other members when they left MQM, the party which had given them the fame and made them high profile from a low-or no profile people? Is this not an example of bias she has for MQM?

Anyway this is not only Fareeha Idress, there is a long list of reporters, anchorpersons and analysts who have been the victims of similar prejudice regarding MQM. MQM has been facing the same since it came into politics in mid 80`s. But, the most important fact is that it has been going ahead successfully despite being the victim of state operations and facing the malicious propaganda from the Pakistani media. The recent victory is the proof of the same. So, well done, MQM! You are really tremendous!