Who is after Altaf’s blood? – AZIZ-UD-DIN AHMAD
ARTICLE (September 29, 2010) : Suddenly and quite unexpectedly, MQM chief Altaf Hussain has added ‘international powers’ to the list of his mortal enemies who, according to him, are conspiring to kill him and destroy his party. In an open letter to his party workers, he told them that ‘international powers’ could eliminate him anytime and they should be mentally prepared for such an eventuality.
During the last three decades the PPP, PML-N, generals and feudal lords have appeared and disappeared from the list of enemies prepared by Altaf in accordance with the needs of the hour and dictated by the type of alliance he had decided to enter into. But the list never mentioned the newly discovered predator called “international powers,” lurching in the shadows and ready to pounce upon the MQM and its leader for the kill. On the contrary, the MQM has assiduously tried to cultivate good relations with the US, Britain and other European Union countries.
This explains the readiness displayed by Britain to provide him asylum along with a number of party activists. Altaf then sought British citizenship, which was given to him on the grounds that the government in Pakistan, then led by the PPP, wanted to eliminate him. British government subsequently refused to extradite him when the request came from Nasirullah Babar, interior minister at the time.
Not that the US or its Western allies have never targeted parties and individuals, they feared could harm their material interests in Asia, Africa and Latin America, nor have they called off attacks of the sort now. The US has a resourceful CIA at its disposal, specialising in ways and means to dispose of those considered to be enemies by Washington.
In Afghanistan, it continues to use the special operations forces for assassinating insurgent leaders. In the past also, Western powers have resorted to tactics like assassination as in the case of Lumumba, military coups as in the case of Iran, Indonesia, and Chile and employed mercenaries to bring down perceived political enemies as in the case of Nicaragua. The choice of the targets was, however, made strictly in the light of the strategic requirements of the US at the times.
The US, being ruled by the most efficient capitalist class in the world, had ensured that there was to be no wastage of energy or resources. Most single-mindedly the US strategy focused on eliminating communism and Moscow’s influence in various parts of the world. Those who were targeted were known all over the world for their ideological leanings. In many cases, they were people whose appeal transcended their countries, regions and continents. In the process, the US allied with and protected all reactionary groups, including warlords, military dictators, and religious extremists – in short all decadent forces that could help in the execution of the job.
After the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the US as the sole super power, the old strategy was thoroughly revamped because old enemies had weakened and were no more an urgent threat. With the decline of communism, parties and leaders with radical political slogans had lost momentum and ceased to pose a challenge to the free market system, which helped by the force of globalization, was breaking down protective barriers created by countries to spread to the farthest corners of the globe. There was, however, another threat that needed total concentration, the threat posed by the extremist organisations targeting the US, though in an altogether different but highly lethal way.
With radical Islamic forces let loose the US and its allies now diverted attention to the struggle against terrorism, which was to define the new US strategy, particularly after 9/11. As Russia and China too faced the threat, they were, in fact, helpful in dealing with the common enemy.
International powers, he says, could eliminate him any time and that the MQM workers should be mentally prepared for such an eventuality. He says he had issued a call to fight against the generals, feudal lords and chieftains who had assumed power ‘through unfair means’. According to him, these anti-people elements benefited from the outdated system prevalent in Pakistan, while “international powers” also use it to their advantage. “International powers used Pakistani establishment, which includes the army, ISI and other powerful agencies to eliminate the MQM. When these powers failed to achieve their objective through conspiracies and barbarity and by slaying thousands of MQM workers, international powers are now trying eliminate Altaf Hussain”. When Altaf talks about the concerns of a bygone era, he seems to be out of synch with the times.
The emergence of the MQM was not on the basis of a radical programme, aimed at rallying the people of Pakistan for the overthrow of the feudal system, warlords and military rule. The party was expressly created to address what it considered the grievances of the Mohajirs in Pakistan. Well, there is nothing wrong about that. If one can form trade unions, lawyers associations, peasant committees and consumer societies, one can also have a party to safeguard the interests of an ethnic group.
The transformation of the MQM from an ethnic party to as organisation embracing all provinces and nationalities was slow, though it was widely welcomed. What did not change during the process, however, was its style of work. Instead of following a programme that conceived big landlordism, tribal system or military rule as its immediate targets, the party preferred to bargain for power with the PPP, PML-N and PML-Q that it blamed for supporting the outmoded system while it also joined hands with military ruler Musharraf without any moral compunction in return for important ministries Interestingly, the party programme even now visualises no modern socio-economic system, not even remedial provisions like land reforms based on a defined ceiling on land.
As far as the fight against religious extremism and terrorism is concerned, which is the principle criterion for determining allies and enemies in the eyes of the US, the MQM totally and unreservedly supported the programme and offered its services to counter the common enemy. The party not only staged public demonstrations against al Qaeda and its allies but also showed willingness to cleanse Karachi and urban Sindh of the menace. This explains why no Western country has ever profiled the party or its members. In matters relating to the issue of visas, they have been treated on merit.
Eyebrows are being raised in Britain now as evidence regarding Imran Farooq’s murder is gathered. The Guardian, quoting sources within Scotland Yard, reported on Sunday that the agency’s investigation into the murder in London of Imran Farooq has revealed that “rows within MQM may have led to his assassination.” According to the Guardian report, Imran was ‘about to endorse or join the new party being announced by Pervez Musharraf. If the lead turns out to be valid, finger is likely to be pointed at those inside the party who could have reason to oppose the defection. The murder is being investigated by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism branch because of the political dimension to the killing.
It would, however, be premature yet to pinpoint those behind the murder. What has led Altaf to presume that the investigation is aimed at targeting him, therefore, remains to be explained. He said he did not have strength to withstand the might of the powers that are out to get him and, therefore, party workers should be mentally prepared for any eventuality because “these powers can eliminate Altaf Hussain anytime.”
It is easy for any political party in Pakistan to accuse its opponents of any crime taking place in the country and get away with it because of the absence of a neutral and efficient investigation machinery in the country. In Britain, however, Scotland Yard is considered a highly professional and respected organisation. Altaf’s statement indicates uneasiness. It would be liable to be interpreted by some as an attempt to prepare ground to ascribe motives to Scotland Yard in case the findings are not to his liking. …
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