Altaf Hussain’s hold over MQM safe despite storm over remarks

ISLAMABAD: An announcement by MQM leader Farooq Sattar that the party will be run from Pakistan and not London, where party founder Altaf Hussain has lived in exile for 24 years, has been welcomed by many quarters.

It has been welcomed most of all by MQM cadres, who have found it difficult to defend the actions and speeches of Hussain, who stirred up a storm on Monday by describing Pakistan as a “cancer for the entire world”. In the past, Hussain’s speeches, in which he threatened other politicians and abused the military high command, resulted in a court order under which they were no longer permitted to be aired live.

Despite this ban, Hussain’s speech on Monday, which led to MQM workers attacking the offices of two TV channels and destroying public and private property, suggests he continues to hold sway over party faithful in Karachi. Keeping this in mind, Sattar’s announcement is being seen as a compromise reached between the MQM and the army.

Analysts say despite being boycotted by the country’s major political parties as well as confronting the Pakistan Army, the MQM’s political fortunes have only brightened. Karachi’s voters continue to vote in droves for the MQM , which draws support from Urdu-speaking people who migrated from India, as it is seen as championing their rights.

A move by the army to introduce an alternate leadership in the form of former mayor Mustafa Kamal failed miserably.

Given the hold that the MQM has over Karachi’s electorate, talk of banning the party seem to have now died down.

While a case of treason has been registered against Hussain, this doesn’t amount to much because he’s not in Pakistan and many such cases remain pending against him.