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.
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!
A good read as usual by S.A.Hussain sahib
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