MQM Goes National!
By Nuzaira Azam
Washington, DC
After more than two decades the Muttahida Qaumi Movement shed its regional identity and got onto the mainstream national political highway. It all happened when the party won a seat in the recent Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly's first-ever election.
Whether one agrees or not, the fact remains that MQM leader Altaf Hussain has led the party to the national level without any patronage or by being a part of a "political dynasty." The party has established a transparent political culture by tolerating political dissent, appreciating hard work, and elevating the middle class to decision-making positions - a phenomenon that is alien to Pakistan's politics.
It is alleged that MQM - the only organized political party in the country - is more regimental than democratic and no party member dares to dissent with the supreme leader Altaf Hussain. However, many perceive it differently and believe that democracy means more responsibilities and to accomplish fundamental tenets and mechanics of democracy, strict rules and laws are indispensable.
There is a ray of hope, albeit a small one. Hussain, being a visionary and leading a party that claims to be based on principles, could play a role in uniting other political forces and help establish a s more stable political system. It is about time to make a new beginning.
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