The remains of the day
Although the PPP government has disassociated itself from Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza’s statements, the damage has already been done. – Dawn file photo
After the recent orgy of violence and bloodshed that gripped Karachi, normality seemed to return to the long suffering city. Enter Senior Minister Sindh, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, who it seemed had decided to remind people why he had been silenced by his party, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), in the first place.
On late Wednesday night at the residence of Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh’s president Shahi Syed, Mirza began to blast the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leadership and the mohajir community. He then proceeded to appoint MQM-Haqiqi leader Afaq Ahmed as the true leader of the Urdu-speaking community in Pakistan. Given the recent events in Karachi, now was not the right time to make such statements.
The senior minister should have realised that playing the Sindh card while standing alongside Shahi Syed, who has his own record of playing the politics of ethnicity, would do nothing to improve the situation.
Predictably, the remarks did not go down well with the MQM and its supporters who took to the streets in mass protests. The MQM has not done itself any favors by reacting in the violent manner that it has. Fifteen people lost their lives and many more continue to suffer.
Although the PPP government has disassociated itself from Mirza’s statements, the damage has already been done. Fear and insecurity has once again returned to Karachi, two words which continue to plague the people of this city and subsequently the rest of Pakistan.
But the question one needs to ask is the real motive behind Mirza’s outburst. If he wanted to present himself as a champion of the Sindhi people and consequently give his own ego a massage, then he has achieved that to a degree. But if he somehow felt that his own political star would travel a great distance that has not happened. Zulfiqar Mirza should realise that politics that divides people along racial and religious lines is always toxic and should never be tampered with.
Having said that, the MQM itself does not get absolved from this troubling situation. If you dance with a chimney sweeper and hope that you come out of it clean, then you’re living in a fool’s paradise. The MQM itself has resorted to the ethnic card as well, but usually when it’s convenient to them. That ace up the sleeves is usually taken out when they feel that they are cornered politically and the only way for them to be heard is by playing the victim. This is not a wise strategy. If they wanted to raise their voice and protest at Zulfiqar Mirza’s comments, then it should be done in a peaceful manner.
The MQM should also decide once and for all whether it wants to stand for a principal, i.e. opposition to feudalism and the jagirdar system, or do they simply care about power politics, where they ultimately get into a coalition with the very people whom they condemn as representatives of all that is wrong in Pakistan’s political setup.
The PPP is also in a bind. The problem for it is that many people in the party agree with the stand that Zulfiqar Mirza has taken, although they are not as vocal about it. Many PPP workers and supporters were uncomfortable with getting into coalition with the MQM, but swallowed the bitter pill due to realpolitik.
But now that the coalition has come apart at the seams, PPP supporters feel that the MQM is acting like a party of spoiled brats who keep kicking and screaming when they don’t get their own way. Although reinstating the Commissionerate System was controversial for some people, and has been challenged by the MQM, the PPP has kowtowed several times to Muttahida’s demands. This includes the dismissal of Zulfiqar Mirza himself from the home ministry after he had previously locked horns with the MQM.
So what happens now? Most likely things will quite down again, as they have so many times before, only to reemerge in the form of burning vehicles and bloodshed on the streets of Karachi. The government doesn’t seem to have a long term strategy to deal with the situation. They seem to go from situation to situation and come up with a short term solutions as they go along. The government is simply determined to complete its tenure in office and is adamant that political strife in Karachi must not derail that objective.
It may very well complete its five-year term, but will Karachi and the people of Pakistan be able to endure anymore of this.
As a person who was born in Karachi but who does not support MQM, I was saddened to hear Mr. Mirza's comments. If my parents came to Sindh poor, it was because they had sacrificed everything for Pakistan. Previously, they were living a good life.
The problem is that supporters of each political party go out and kill their rivals. Unless there is rule of law and police is not under the full control of politicians, things will not change.
I don't support MQM but do think that they are correct in calling for more local government. In the US, each major city has its own city council and mayor. Why would anybody be opposed to it?
Sindhis should embrace all residents of Sindh as "Sindhis," and permanent residents of Sindh should call themselves by no other name than Sindhis. The other option is to change the name of provinces to those which are not based on ethnicity. That way everybody can take pride in their new identity. There are no other solutions to ensure national unity.
ASA i was born and raised in Karachi and moved to USA when i was 19 , now i am 45 i fell very bad for the people who are dying due to the the greed of few people ,when i saw greed i mean greed of power ,money land and all of above command , one person says stuped things about other race and that other race react with more stuped way kill any one regardless of who the are ,yes you are powerfull but can your power is going to feed the families of those who are dying every day in the name of mahijer or pushton or sindhi or muslim or hindu or christian ,use what power GOD gave you to improve the life of fellow humens then fell that power and joy and stand up tall and say that yes i did it i brought the positive change in another persons life but at this point you are bringing death and destruction in other persons life when this fire going to catch you you are going to fell the pain which was caused by YOU
I m surprised that no one try to assess the real situation. Reality is that after 3 1/2 years of mal-administration the 3 ruling coalation parties were getting down in their popularity. As was done in 2008 the plan that is suited to power brokers is to have these three parties reelected ensuring that the province remain divided. The last 2 weeks drama ensured that urdu speaking people will not think to vote any one else except MQM. The sindhi people are enraged over issue of new province so they will not think of voting against PPP and the majority of pashtoons will not vote against ANP. It is as simple and subsequent events prove my point when Altaf Hussain said that they will not oppose good work of government.
Do not ignore Mirza’s extremely racist comments. He should desist from issuing such statement which divide people on ethnic basis. They play dirty politics innocent people are killed.
It is very encouraging to see that people have started to observe the mal practices Politiciain. No matter its irrational statements made by Mr. Mirza or voilence by MQM activists in "protest". This intoletant attitude isnt a part of a civilised educated behavior. Now at least I see light on the other side of tunnel. I hope this optimisim is not limited educated minority but also to considerable numbers in Karachi population.
Can the author explain what are Shahi's "politics of ethnicity"? I condemn Mirza's comments but why does the MQM go on a killing spree in response? If they are so angry then the should go after Mirza! what is the point of killing 15 innocent people and buring shops and vehicles. Even in revenge against Mirza the MQM went after the Pukhtun by burning dozens of their busses. This was the most sickening part. A few more incidents like this and we will have a real civil war in Karachi.
Dont deny that Shahi Syed himself thrives on ethnicity. I wonder where he got all this money from and why he lives in Defense, he should live amongst poor Pukhtoons in Qasba
Political parties should muse & understand the inevitable predicament of doing politics based on ethnicity in the country and specifically in Karachi. MQM should have registered their remonstration in a peaceful way and with their vast following should have brought the city to appeasement, unfortunately it did not happen. Mirza is notorious for casting aspersions but what PPP should take note of is that he has no political savvy whatsoever.
i don't have words to say anything about the biased statement of dr mirza and the violent act done by MQM'S persons. i would just say that everyone who is doing politics here , have no care about common people. their all politics based upon ethnicity and fanaticism.
We are not a single nation, rather a group of nations. We need to accept this because in the name of a single nation, only selected people are benefited. If we were a single nation, all the jobs in karachi would have been equally distributed but thats not the case. Everyone knows who gets the maximum jobs and whose rights are being crushed. If someone wants to claim his rights, he is labeled as a traitor and a person using ethinic card. This attitude is very biased and its stripping the true dwellers off their rights.
'Shahi Syed, who has his own record of playing the politics of ethnicity' is a biased statement. Pashtuns are the second largest nation among Pakistani nation after Punjabis and not an ethnic group. Author is biased or doesn’t know the question of nations and nationalities.
Fact is that there is a war going on to control Karachi since it is THE financial center. MQM is a represented party and gets most of the Karachi votes. ANP and PPP are trying to take over that representation with bully tactics. I dont see these parties to be as active (interms of doing actual development work) in there own turf cities. Let the majority rule and dont try to usurp rights of local people..
which suppressed people are you referring to? MQM? please, i hope not….
I've been reading up on this controversy and I fail to understand why everybody is so easily overlooking Mirza's extremely racist comments. He did not direct his hatred towards a political leader but towards an entire community of common people. What other kind of reaction WAS being expected? He essentially called the Urdu speaking people beggars who'd turned on their benefactors. AND at a time when they (and other communities) are being targeted day to day in irrational acts of violence. What was he implying? Such thinly veiled insults don't go lightly.
Completely agree with writer, MQM should protest against the Mirza statement but not with bloodshed and burning Karachi.This will lower down the MQM graph among the Karachihites.
Mirza remarks are highly objectionable.
I do not appreciate Dr. Z. Mirza’s statement, it is not his first statement against London gangsters. I am not Sindhi, Punjabi, Blochi or Pathan but a Pakistani living abroad for 38 years and no one call me immigrant or go back to Pakistan. This is non muslim state and their treatment with ethnic minority is much better than a Muslim country such as Pakistan. I can ask Mirza Molana Shabbir Usmani and Molana Zafar Ahmad Usmani did raised the flags of Pakistan as Muhajir but as a Muslim Pakistani. Karachi does not belong to on ethnic group, everyone have right to live their.
I have an objection.
Wherever you are living, do you try to take away the rights of the group living in majoirty there? I hope no. But here, its opposite.
It completely drains out sanity to even think that a statement can get to claim 20 lives in Karachi, but unfortunately it turns out true in a city being ruled by MQM. Educated class of the city condemns the statement not the consequences that happened as a result of it… what sort of dead end zone have we got into!
it is so unfortunate that we are still arguing and fighting who is who i.e from which race which ethincity.. its shame
reply should be peaceful protest – no blood shed – no violence
no doubt ZM hurt the sentiments of people. Karachi only needs peace for all
Arshad Nabi wrote that "reply should be peaceful protest – no blood shed – no violence no doubt ZM hurt the sentiments of people. Karachi only needs peace for all" I emigrated from India to Pakistan and lived in Punjab. No Punjabi called us Muhajir, how can MQM say their voters are muajir after living in Karachi for 64 years, they all now Pakistani. Daily Ummat is the only paper who is exposing MQM activities.
The Sindh Card is very important for Zardari. The modernization and rehabilitation of Giy-e-Sindh is success Guaranty for next election. Right Populism and Pop culture racism is a political success Guaranty. As well as this concept serve to protect the corrupt elite of PPP.
Well written. A fine balance between humour and the more serious subject matter.
Not that I appreciate Zulfiqar Mirza's words, but to be honest MQM needs to be stopped. They can't just go like that and behave like this. They are no doubt violent, criminals headed by a murderer. How could you allow them to show such violence, do wall chalking and when Police wants to do operation against them, they threaten govt on TV.
Disagree
Muhajir community (if that's what they want to be called, or you want to call them that) are no threat to anyone (as a community/group of people etc.). I don't think ZM thinks that either. He's quite the hot head and the reason he gives such statements is to purely provoke the MQM simply because they think everything can be sorted through violence and fear and that I presume pisses him off – plus when they retaliate people turn against them so political mileage too. Karachiites are generally peaceful people who don't want to waste time in nonsense and simply get on with work and life – that is exactly why the MQM prevails. There modus operandi does not work with martial races… hence, even more reason not to fear the MQM. I feel sorry for the people of Karachi though… however, nature will takes it's course and a constant effort of oppression will not continue indefinitely. There are a lot of sane people in MQM and we hope they will chose the path of real politics.
fully agree. very true.
P.S : i am a so called Mohagir but totally against the MQM agenda.
agreed 100%
PPP is only intrested to divert the minds of the people of pakistan and it has been sucessfull what i and others fail to understand is that pakistan has become a failed state and people will suffer so bad in the long run that it will become a lesson for other countries to learn from,question is why has everyone become so selfish?
disagree
the incompetence of the government is not a good excuse for going around on a killing spree and burning whatever happens to fall in the way of the mob…
Two things. First of all, such pathetic words should never even be muttered for anyone, let alone at a public meeting, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, caste, etc. And secondly as the article points out, this was certainly NOT the time to express such hateful remarks.
Good news and justified
I agree to some extent with the analysis of writer.but I could not understand if Zulfiquar Mirza's statement was controversial, MQM has complete right to protest and raise their point but they have NO right to pursue the politics of chaos and violence as a mean to dictate their point.They should have protested through arguments and many TV anchor persons provided them platform to bash ZM but the use of violence in Karachi is inhuman and abhorring.And they should NOT be allowed to play with lives of the people.Let's all live with peace in Karachi Sindh.
I agree wholeheartedly.
I totally agree that it was not the time for Zulfiqar Mirza to go into controversy .He should have known how the media exploited by showing it again and again on TV.As far as MQM is concerned their politics is wrong. .God help the people of sindh.
When Ms. Bhutto was assassinated, scores of banks, businesses and vehicles were burned. It was their political expression… same script is followed… Level of your anger is expressed by the amount of damage done…weird but true.
The bottom line is without force you cannot get respect, either you are army or Jagirdar. MQM tries to brings middle class awam in politics and use force for protection. That is the only way to survive. All other parties in Karachi have weapons(BTW no one mentions that) , If MQM lay down its arms, it will cease to exist tomorrow… and that is the ground reality.
Completely agree! This is so unfortunate that for survival, MQM has to remain armed and exhibit its power from time to time.