Establishment Unwilling to Allow Space to Altaf
By SalahuddinHaider
Karachi, Pakistan
Acknowledging that politicians after reaching certain level of popularity, assume immortality, begin to live in the hearts of the people even after their death, restrictions on them often become a measure of handicap for them to carry forward their mission.
Instances can be cited of Sheikh MujeeburRehman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, or of Benazir Bhutto, who are no longer in this world, yet their legacy has not only continued, but has helped their believers ascend to authority.
What has been said in the opening paragraph has been preciselywhat has been happening to the MQM founder, Altaf Hussain. From measures taken by the Rangers in Karachi and Hyderabad in the last 24 hours, it is abundantly clear that, come what may, the firebrand leader will not be allowed to re-assert himself. His men, representing the interim Rabita Committee for Pakistan, and those who deviated from the MQM Pakistan philosophy to remain loyal to Hussain, were taken into custody from Karachi and Hyderabad almost simultaneously.
The Establishment’s intentions were crystal clear. However, an element of surprise was there too. Instead of sending them to jails, perhaps for being senior citizens, Kunwar Khalid Yunus, and DrArif Zafar Hasan, were placed under detention. Initially, they were sent to jail, but they were merely charged with old offences of helping Altaf Hussain in his contemptuous speech of August 22. They were detained under Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. No fresh charge was leveled against them. That showed that the Establishment took a rather lenient view because of their age, did not wish to look merciless, for that would have been bad for them.
Whether youngster Amjadullah, a defector from PTI, was meted out similar treatment, was not known, but Zafar Rajput and many others who had rebelled against Farooq Sattar philosophy and had organized pro-Altaf zonal and sector committees in Sindh’s second biggest city, have not only been arrested, and expelled from MQM Pakistan by Sattar, but they may be treated rather harshly now.
Physically Altaf is alive and kicking, but seems to have met his political death, atleast for sometime. A change of heart or regime in Pakistan may renew hope but for that he and his followers will have to wait or keep praying for divine blessing.
Since mathematical progression of 2 and 2 is hardly 4 in Pakistan, permutations and combinations have long been forgotten in a country ruled more by whims than legal authority. But those knowing Altaf Hussain well continue to argue that his determination, unflinching faith in himself, and his ability to bounce back, his sheer perseverance, are bound to pay off—when thatis hard to say now.
Things have become extremely difficult for him and for his colleagues in London, or within or outside Pakistan. The establishment will not allow him to gain any space, let alone to allow concessions, for he has already been declared a traitor and anti-Pakistan in parliamentary resolutions, supported and backed wholeheartedly by his own people in the parliament and provincial assemblies. Altaf may see that as a “revolt” but calling it a rebellion against his attitude would be more honest a statement. Such an assessment is nothing but a ground reality; not acknowledging that will tantamount to dishonesty, a term political scientists and historians prefer to own as valid and true.
The situation in Pakistan, on the other hand, is up for a drastic swing. Imran Khan’s threat of locking-up the country’s seat of authority, Islamabad, on November 2, and the Supreme Court notice to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his sons and daughter, and even to his son-in-law for cases on Panama Leaks—are all important factors, and cannot be ignored. These developments can be a pointer to something serious. Whether things fizzle out tomorrow, is yet another factor. Nature has its own calculators which it keeps playing with. A dramatic change in the situation in Pakistan, where politics now is at the crossroads, can always be a possibility. Ruling that out will be unwise.
A tug of war between Farooq Sattar and associates and pro-Altaf elements, within Pakistan and without, has started, and will soon be in full swing. Mustafa Kamal also cannot sit idly by, and may make moves, which will initiate a triangular tight-rope walking. Who will be the winner and who will be loser, will be a risky prediction at this point in time.
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