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IT may be the definition of madness, but it can also have dangerous and destabilising effects on politics.
Doing something over and over again and expecting a different result seems to be the only discernible strategy of the military establishment when it comes to the politics of Karachi.
Saturday’s local government election in the provincial capital has yet again demonstrated a simple, electoral truth.
The more the security establishment targets the MQM, the more the average voter in Karachi recoils, and the further ahead the MQM pulls of all its political rivals in the city.
That was true in April when the MQM trounced the PTI in the NA-246 by-election — a constituency that is home to the MQM headquarters — despite all manner of hurdles created for the party.
The Karachi voter had spoken: the MQM vote bank is not based merely on violence and intimidation.
On Saturday, the party once again won a comfortable majority, virtually crushing the PTI-JI combined challenge and leaving the PPP in a distant second place. And once again unsavoury and unnecessary tactics against the MQM were deployed, with the FIA finding it necessary to register an FIR against the MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, and sundry other party members.
The intended signal to the voter was as clear as it was unpalatable – don’t vote for the MQM, a party that murders its own. The Karachi voter roundly rejected that deplorable signal.
Yet, will lessons be learned? They should be, but it is not clear if there is a willingness to reassess strategy.
Clearly, there is a great deal of support, including among MQM supporters, for the parts of the Karachi operation that is targeting militants and criminals.
Where matters become murky is the political arena. Is there some attempt to re-engineer the politics of Karachi and Sindh itself through selective, politically motivated interventions?
There is too much circumstantial evidence to dismiss the possibility. Where there is a nexus between crime and politics, that nexus should be attacked. But surely all politics is not and must not be treated as criminal.
Much as the establishment has erred, there is a great deal of blame that must be shared by the MQM too.
The party’s leadership appears to have been reduced to self-pity and anger, while the voters’ repeated embrace of the party seems only to give more reason to the MQM leadership to wallow in their perceived victimhood.
Having an MQM mayor of Karachi could be an opportunity for a reset. While crime and violence dominate the headlines, the city is plagued by a depressing array of problems.
Basic public services are either wholly absent or, at best, shabbily catered for. The mayoralty and the new local government system may not be ideal, but there is an opportunity, and the MQM should try and put the needs of the public ahead of its own troubles with the state.
Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2015
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Comments (86) Closed
Dec 07, 2015 01:37am
timing is very important to achieve any things.
If it not happen How MQM win the election.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:25am
Agreed , however this is happening since 1992 , with the exception of Mr.Musharraf era.The party is targeted so badly now bitterness is allover .To remove this bitterness approach , the murder FIR's won't help , it will also create more dissolution among establishment and MQM.They both should learn that there is no way out other than reconciliation among all ranks.
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Dec 07, 2015 05:00am
I agree with your following suggestion:
"The mayoralty and the new local government system may not be ideal, but there is an opportunity, and the MQM should try and put the needs of the public ahead of its own troubles with the state."
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Dec 07, 2015 05:03am
I hope MQM will meet the expectations of its voters, otherwise there may not be a second chance for a "victim card"
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Dec 07, 2015 05:10am
On the hole reasonably balanced editorial. Unfortunately, Karachi is in shackles of 2nd province of the country and is to the point of suffocation. For God's sake, why we need rangers, why the Karachi police from Karachi can't be increased by the same number as rangers employed.
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Dec 07, 2015 05:50am
Pakistan is owned by its people not establishment. What moral ground they havd if no one ever punished in establishment for harboring terrorists?
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Dec 07, 2015 09:13am
Don't be disingenuous ...75% of Karachi didn't vote that should tell you a lot about what this city wants and what it thinks about the electoral process.
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Dec 07, 2015 09:40am
Great people, Great city of Pakistan, highly educated people of Karachi selected a Great party who had proven his work in last mayor ship time. Congratulations to all of you Karachities and MQM.
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Dec 07, 2015 09:40am
Well written article.
One fails to understand, why people who matter fail to understand reason behind the popular MQM support . Sooner the reality on ground is appreciated and MQM is allowed to play its role, as per the wishes of its supporters , better it would be for the prosperity of the country. Of course no body can condone criminal acts and appropriate actions taken against criminal elements will be supported by all .
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Dec 07, 2015 09:41am
"..MQM vote bank is not based merely on violence and intimidation........" Yes sir . It is based on Ethnicity . You are entitled to your opinion as am I to mine .
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Dec 07, 2015 09:49am
It is very obvious that political parties and their militant wings are behind most of the violence in Karachi. The Karachi operation should have began after the LG elections with the involvement of the new city govt. This way the party controlling the mayor office would have tamped down its own militia to bring peace to the city. The security forces have done a commendable job in ending violence from the city and inadvertently cleared the path for the party most responsible for it to take credit for it.
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Dec 07, 2015 09:53am
MQM should realize that they can win whole urban areas very easily then why the politics of hate and militancy? MQM should quit such politics and should do progressive politics to make karachi a proud city and if they will leave this politics of vandalism then i will vote them even in punjab.
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Dec 07, 2015 09:55am
Now MQM must agree that the establishment is not against them. Whenever election happened under Army or Rangers supervision MQM secured more seats than ever before. Now stop this politics of militancy and work to make karachi a model city to live in.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:03am
A timely and conclusive article.For any civilised nation,accepting electrol result is the best way to move forward.Gone are the days in this world of fast and active social media when rights of common man were subdued.We must all work for betterment of our society and country without trespassing any others rights.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:05am
In the end, its all that matters.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:06am
Only reason mqm won elections again:
There is no better option to choose than mqm, in Karachi.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:07am
It's pointless to draw conclusions from this election as the turnout was only 25% out of which 15% of Karachi voters voted for MQM. MQM had a point to prove and all its voters went out and gave their vote, plus the party organized everything perfectly. The remaining 75% of voters like me (who don't like MQM) preferred to sit in our homes and didnt vote because there's no point when you vote for anyone else and in the end that polling station result comes out to be 8,000 MQM votes and 0 votes for other parties, like what happened in 2013 elections!
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Dec 07, 2015 10:07am
Electoral win for MQM....or for any other political party ... would it change any thing in status-quo... Define madness... repeating the same experiment again and again and expecting different results... Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:08am
@ m m amin : as is Prime Minister Saheb's vote bank :-)
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Dec 07, 2015 10:28am
Agree with the editorial. The Establishment should now accept that MQM - good, bad, or ugly - is not going away. But a peaceful and prosperous city is everyone's desire and is in the interest of us all. So if the Establishment still wants to play a role in Karachi and the rest of Sind, it should limit itself to simple enforcement of the law without prejudice toward any party or ethnicity or individual. Fewer murders, fewer robberies, fewer land mafias, fewer kidnappings, less money extortion - these are things we can all agree on regardless of who we voted for this weekend.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:51am
@Daanish : wishful thinking, they will go on same pattern with extra force
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Dec 07, 2015 10:59am
Agree that "And once again unsavoury and unnecessary tactics against the MQM were deployed, with the FIA finding it necessary to register an FIR ....". Note - this was first FIR by FIA in 2015, as FIR #1/2015. FIA offices were specially opened to register this FIR on election day. can someone ask WHY & WHO asked for it.? MQM voters responded with huge mandate.
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Dec 07, 2015 11:00am
The challenge for MQM will be to take more powers to get the job done. In current scenario most of the powers are with the CM or the Minister. The voters have spoken now its the turn of the establishment to do what needs to be done. The powers needs to be returned to the party who have the mandate now. Actions of establishment will tell the people of Karachi if we are the first class citizens of a progressively developing country or we are third class citizens.
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Dec 07, 2015 11:03am
@Hassan last time I read the turn out was around 44% .... My friend 75% + 44% = dhandhli and dharna.
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Dec 07, 2015 11:10am
This is clear message to establishment and federal/sindh govt. You have sidelined such large and important city of Pakistan and its residents. This is reaction against discrimination, quota system, no jobs for urdu speaking in govt institutions. If you will not treat Pakistanis equally, Pakistan will not progress.
Look at Lahore which is now world class city and Karachi has garbage, road, bus, metro issues which no one addresses. Fund are not released. Even with this setup, if sindh govt wont help then the Local Khi govt cannot do much.
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Dec 07, 2015 11:33am
Similar things happened in Bihar and Kashmir. Many did not want Lalu Yadav's RJD and Mufti's PDP in ruling coalition. But it is democracy, we have to accept verdict and go along with majority-wishes.
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Dec 07, 2015 12:07pm
One thing is for sure that our security agency Almighty political wing has never been dismantled. They have been trying and trying and keep trying to snatch Karachi from Karachi representatives and give it to the love ones, but people of Karachi rejects that.
Hope, they are done trying now and will stop interfering in Karachi affairs but we all now this could never happen.
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Dec 07, 2015 12:13pm
"Doing something over and over again and expecting a different result seems to be the only discernible strategy of the military establishment when it comes to the politics of Karachi."
Why does the Establishment involve itself in politics and civilian matters in the first place? Why can't they stop meddling in the affairs of which they seem to have very little comprehension?
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Dec 07, 2015 12:39pm
The editorial is very timely. This is a historic opportunity for the establishment to drop the perception - if not reality - of hostility towards mqm. It sounds cliched but enough Karachiites have suffered at the hand of provincial and federal policies. Let there be a balm on their grievances. Let mqm be judged by its performance, not by unelected actors. But let mqm have the tools to deliver. Karachiites have proved themselves smart enough to see all the machinations which only tilted them more towards mqm. Why r simple truths lost on our apparently not so intelligent agencies.
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Dec 07, 2015 12:40pm
It is surprising the way the people's mandate is discredited. If we respect and value democracy, we must accept people's verdict and not downplay their selection. Let the party that has been elected through democratic polling process enjoy the fruits and responsibility of their win.
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Dec 07, 2015 12:46pm
Like Mustafa Kamal,the new mayor can certainly do a lot to improve the present conditions in Karachi,provided the federal as well as the provincial governments do not create problems ( deliberately ). Karachiites love their city no matter where they come from. Difference in political ideology and provincialism must be shunned and budgets for developmental projects be allocated fairly and honestly. It does not matter who the mayor is or which political party he belongs to. But unfortunately,in Pakistan it is the political expediency that has cost us our development.If the political parties avoid this then Karachi and also other cities will develop.
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Dec 07, 2015 12:54pm
Heartiest Congrats to MQM.
And for all the people who just hate MQM for no reason, please learn to respect.
I don't understand why people just don't accept their mandate.?
Why complains of rigging and thappa mafia ? with due respect of those UCs where other parties have won ...wasn't there any thappa people ?
Folks please learn to respect and accept.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:08pm
I see it as an example of Establishment not rigging the elections when they easily could have done it. They deserve some credit. Even though I abhor MQM militancy, I would love to see the educated lot of MQM perform in Karachi. It will be a win-win for Pakistan if they are able to perform as in the days of Mustafa Kamal.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:09pm
What a well balanced editorial from DAWN. However, the part that I was expecting in this editorial was the destabilizing role of rural elite of Sindh Province that is governing (or not governing at all) this province. PPP's ruling elite is the real problem. They are not ready to give power to the grass root level. There only interest in Karachi is to make as much money as possible. For them Karachi is the goose that lays golden egg for them. People deprived of their rights to govern their own city creates frustration that sometime lead to unnecessary strife in this province.
MQM also need to understand that target killers and criminals are not their strength. Their real strength lies in educated, middle class professionals that can make this party the best delivery platform and role model for the country.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:15pm
Karachites whether supporters of MQM or those who opted to stay at home should now stop making complaints about lack of civic facilities , lawlessness , non development work compared with Lahore, Rwalpindi or Peshawar. As the both segments have helped to maintain the status quo.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:15pm
I am not a supporter of MQM. But anything is better than PTI.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:25pm
Basically, the election result seems to be a combination of two negative elements:
1) the missing alternative (the leadership of other parties seems to be more corrupt or more incapable than that of MQM) and
2) a continuous deterioration of socio-economic situation in the City, especially because of rising criminality.
Now I can only hope that MQM tries hard to put the proper house in order by eliminating criminal elements from the party and by working sincerely to fulfill the mandate given by Karachi.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:26pm
I'm shocked, how they can support one who looted them next day.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:27pm
The educated and enlightened people of Karachi have voted for MQM as it is the only party that have stake in Karachi and own it, as its own. Others are outsiders who are concerned with numbers or extract from this city without giving anything in return like our Feudals from the interior who keep the population under them engaged in search of ROTI KAPRA MAKAN while plundering the country.
Also, the recent operation supported by many Karachiites has been biased and directed against one ethnic community while others has been spared. This discrimination need to be stopped and all criminals, corrupt officials regardless of the political affiliation and ethnicity need to be brought under justice. Chaudary Nisar, PM and Gen Raheel need to address this as at the moment the people of Karachi expressed themselves with votes if this continues there will be reaction in form of agitation and violence.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:39pm
@faheem Unable to understand your point. The real problem lies in devolution of power. MQM showed to the world that they are the most popular party among the masses. Now it has to be seen how they get the real power to deliver. People of Karachi are not stupid. They understand very well who can serve them by running the most crucial institution for them i.e. Local Government System.
People of this city understand very well that PTI has no roots in Karachi at all. They simply cannot manage this mega city using burger-class or 'imported' workers to run local body institutes. The next challenge MQM has to face is to deal with corrupt PPP ruling elite that has made local bodies institutions dependent on their nod. This system is not going to serve any purpose and I see some serious strife between MQM and PPP in near future.
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Dec 07, 2015 01:45pm
@Hassan I was among those 75% who didnt vote, but this does not mean i wouldn't have voted for MQM. accept the truth People love MQM in Karachi.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:09pm
Many analysts are in a state of denial, they think that given a good alternative to MQM people will not vote for them in Karachi, but the inherent problem with this assessment is the fact to find a better alternative is unfortunately very tough . Given the allegations against MQM it is also true that they work very hard in their constituencies, are always easy to approach and are known never to accept kickbacks.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:14pm
@Hassan Sir, that applies to the rest of the country as well. Stop alluding yourself that voters in the rest of the country are jumping from joy on the sight of PML and PPP walas. The vast majority of voters in this country have no faith left in the system or it elite rulers.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:15pm
it is time MQM realised that purging itself of bhatta and voilence mafia it can play a positive role in national politics. the earlier the better.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:27pm
karachites can not be fooled by propaganda on media.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:27pm
MQM has controlled Karachi since the 1980's. If you look at Karachi before MQM and after, the difference is stark. Yes democracy has won and voters have yet again voted for MQM so let's see if they do anything different this time. If the target killing and bhatta khori returns as usual then MQM voters cannot blame the rangers for the mess.
I personally would like rangers to go hard now that MQM has won. Don't give the criminal elements within the party any notion that they are off the hook now.
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Dec 07, 2015 02:36pm
@analyses : "Khisyani Billi Khamba Nochay". That's My analysis over your comment. sorry dude but come out of the denial mode. Don't blame any one or the system when you yourself is not ready to admit the reality nor even bothered to take part in the election process.
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Dec 07, 2015 03:02pm
Let me put it this way ..
Why is the murder of a British citizen , who was murdered in London UK , being investigated in Pakistan..?? when their own Institutions like Scotland yard are on it...?
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Dec 07, 2015 03:09pm
Fully agreed !!!. Establishment should accept the reality of MQM. Intentionally targeting them will only increase their vote bank and thus political power.
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Dec 07, 2015 03:15pm
@Hassan do not live in dream world, those who voted are counted those who sat watching tvs are not counted, even Modi saraker won on just 40 vote casting.
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Dec 07, 2015 03:16pm
@Black Warrant : Spot On Target. Your review is very well balanced too but the problem is neither the people want to listen this truth nor they are agree to analyze with the cool head leaving aside all the biases they have against MQM.
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Dec 07, 2015 03:18pm
@M Rafique YES AND ALL PARTIES IN THE PUNJAB ARE ANGELIC
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Dec 07, 2015 03:31pm
@lafanga Absolutely agree with you....let us start from the capital of Pakistan where one maulvi is challenging the whole country...then move to southern Punjab LEJ is challenging. Unless this mindset will not change that we are good, pious , patriotic people and you are bad people nothing is gonna work.
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Dec 07, 2015 04:04pm
@ m m amin , Pakistan is mix of ethnicities and there is no shame it. We are Pakistanis and we are democratic republic, everyone has right to represent, Some voted for MQM due to ethnicity however me being a Karachiitee voted for MQM secular mindset and just to reject government and establishment policies against terrorism and their inaction toward religious extremism. PTI lost the charm the day they allied themselves with Jamat-i-Islami , How come Jamat is still allowed in participating in the electoral process after law enforcement agencies captured high profile international Al-Qaeda criminals from their Nazameen residence , We needs moderate , literate , Secular Party which is able to send lower middle and middle class to the parliaments & Senate. last but not the least we need candidates not just in Karachi all over Pakistan in every constituency who is born and bread in same constituency so that they interact more with local community and know their challenges.
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Dec 07, 2015 04:15pm
@ m m amin the same way sindhis vote for ppp
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Dec 07, 2015 04:17pm
@Sandhu its despie military operation that mqm has won.
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Dec 07, 2015 04:21pm
Will the Punjab and army ever give MQM the rightful authority and funds to serve Karachi? Never. Because the Punjab sticks to a policy of using other provinces resources to fund itself. We saw this in East Pakistan, Balochistan, and Sindh. Will the establishment ever learn? I doubt it.
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Dec 07, 2015 04:50pm
People get the leaders they deserve. This speaks volumes about the people of Karachi and their choices.
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Dec 07, 2015 04:56pm
Karachi People again again vote for MQM. But all powers in CM.
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Dec 07, 2015 05:13pm
Lets hope they have good sense to stay away from the PPP-Zardari.
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Dec 07, 2015 05:23pm
It really irks me now listening to whining PTI supporters, they sound exactly like 80's JI workers whose party was constantly making wrong choices and blaming everybody else. PTI worker needs to see where JI stand today despite a very disciplined infra structure, that they completely lack.
Imran Khan despite my best wishes turned out to be the disappointment of this century in Pakistan thus far, he is no different from current lot of leaders, total disappointment.
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Dec 07, 2015 07:02pm
@ m m amin I agree, same is the case all over Pakistan . . . what a shame!!!
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Dec 07, 2015 07:11pm
For over 30 years MQM has won landslide inspite of so much establishments ulterior motives.
People of Karachi are most educated and politically aware and are not like other provinces which depends on Bradari, feudal lords or professional political families.
They vote with their hearts and soul.
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Dec 07, 2015 07:40pm
@Hassan
Their loss. Why did they not vote? Did the Army and Rangers not provide all the protection? Stop making lame excuses and realize that Karachi gives MQM the mandate because it is the most popular party. I do not vote for MQM out of fear. This is a silly problem that non-Urdu speakers don't understand. I see the usual sour grape comments like "well if they like bhatta khors and murderers then let them elect MQM." This is nonsense. MQM has performed and people have seen it. Why is it that all the lessons of "Pakistani first" are only reserved for MQM supporters? Why is that in other parts of Pakistan, nobody votes outside their ethnicity? When MQM starts winning seats in the Punjab and NWFP (as it has tried), then you can make this claim. Otherwise its just a case or selective criticism of the MQM.
Let the people of Karachi be and let them get governed by the MQM. If there are law enforcement issues then keep the Police and Rangers in town. Recruit more local ppl.
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Dec 07, 2015 08:31pm
When PPP gets elected in Sindh, people say " People voted for Bhutto legacy" When PML-N gets elected in Punjab, people say "Shairf brothers turned Punjab into Heaven". When PTI gets elected in KPK, people say "Pathans are the most intelligent on earth since they voted for change" BUT when People of Karachi votes for MQM and MQM gets elected in Karachi then people along with Media say " They are racist, voted on ethnicity" Whereas, people of Karachi are the most educated and mature population of Pakistan......
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Dec 07, 2015 08:46pm
@Jalaluddin S. Hussain
But what if the state is hell bent on creating troubles for MQM, or Sindh. All the false accusations against MQM is baseless yet the establishment doesn't undersatnd.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:04pm
MQM win is good for Pakistan.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:18pm
Your editorial on MQM electoral win says much beyond the lines ,but given the conundrum Karachi has become over the years,one can't but look askance at the way MQM has been playing the game even when it had got a level playing field.
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Dec 07, 2015 10:27pm
Let us see what MQM does now. They have been voted to perform. let us see if they try to change anything. They should fight for karachi rights which have been usurped by people from interior Sindh. All the police jobs , secretariat jobs got o interior Sindh/ this is a fact. And that has to be changed .
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Dec 07, 2015 11:03pm
Let's give the opportunity to MQM and see how they mange the city to bring under control the violence. It will be repeated again and again, until the bad people are eliminated. Please no Telephonic speeches.
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Dec 07, 2015 11:57pm
Karachi's importance is undeniable -hosts >10% of Pakistan population and generates 70% of country's revenues, voters are comparatively more educated than rest of country. And Karachi has spoken, loud n clear. Think-tanks in Establishment need to respect the mandate. MQM has emerged stronger despite biased media onslaught aided/engineered by establishment. PPP led prov. govt. must delegate authority & resources to L.B. reps. asap, so that city get back on it's feet & vibrates again. Supreme Court should monitor what transpires now that the l.b. polls are over. Toothless/powerless local setup will dilute the effects of S.C. initiative!
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Dec 08, 2015 01:10am
Great victory of MQM, mean victory of Karachities people. Good luck Karachi.
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Dec 08, 2015 01:17am
We all should love mqm because people of karachi chose them in democracy we should respect and love the party chosen by people
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Dec 08, 2015 02:54am
Attempted marginalization of MQM by establishment and other political parties resulted in a greater vote bank for them in Karachi.
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Dec 08, 2015 02:55am
When you are Right , you dont change your decision . You stand behind, before and with it. Those who had called Karachites to be ashamed of their choice , should be ashamed of theirselves. People like Ali Zaidi are doomed to fail as they cursed the very same voter they were begging to vote for them.
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Dec 08, 2015 03:12am
One thing all the "so called" analysts fail to mention is that the gap is definitely shrinking in PTIs' favor all over Pakistan. If these analysts or anyone for that matter expected that there will be split second turn around in favor of PTI well, they thought wrong. Things take time and that turn around will happen in due time.
Too much money and power is involved beyond anyone's imagination to keep the current state of affairs going in this country the way it has been for decades and the media is very much complicit in that regard. Lets just hope that good and rational prevail.
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Dec 08, 2015 04:35am
MQM can exist without Altaf Hussain.
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Dec 08, 2015 08:35am
@Daanish I don't agree with you, development stands second as long as people of karaoke feel they are victimised and MQM is bound to win.
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Dec 08, 2015 10:39am
Well, now that MQM has won by such a huge majority , I am sure Karachi will enter a new era of "prosperity" in which the "bori" makers and grave diggers will flourish .
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Dec 08, 2015 10:41am
@daa It is due to the Establishment that peace has largely returned to Karachi. Let us see what your beloved MQM can do to ensure it lasts.
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Dec 08, 2015 11:07am
Pakistan must reform its society with excellence,justice and prosperity.For this we should have strong departments of comparative studies.We already have language universities.Our language graduates must bring the political knowledge from east and west.Our universities should transfer top quality books into Urdu.We dont need excellence of yesterday.We have to be the Imam of this world.We have to forget the politics based on ethnicity,provincialism and obscurantism.We need good politicians,excellent economists and best governance.Elections can give excellence.
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Dec 08, 2015 12:23pm
@rehan : Secondly, don't you think you are expecting something from MQM that has nothing to do with Local body government. Since when you people start realizing that MQM has never FULLY governed Karachi with COMPLETE POWERS. Ever have seen Chief Minister, Interior Minister (Not interior adviser) or any major ministry under MQM. A big NO. Now you will claim that MQM has been under coalition government. Yes, right but always with limited powers. Being a coalition partner is way something different from being governing the Province. If you claim MQM has lesser seats than the governing party. Of course Yes, due to same corrupt political system even at the time of Mr. Musharraf when MQM has got majority among the coalition partners never be able to get their CM in fact a powerless governorship has been awarded to them all because of same feudal mindset.
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Dec 08, 2015 12:24pm
@rehan : Cont.. This rural Urban divide is so clear and getting even more clearer after every election where a rural elected party has always availed the chance to govern the urban part too who clearly rejects them due to their feudal mindset, incompetence and corruption. When will the party of Urban areas get the chance to govern the Province, I think never until a new province will be emerged. Once MQM got complete power and they will not be able to perform, the most educated and sensible voters of Urban Sindh will definitely kick them out but not before that please mind it.
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Dec 08, 2015 07:10pm
It always gives opposite result than desired.The activists and supporters create a joint wave.It happens any where if the establishment shows such a desperate look. Karachi was no exception.Moreover ,Karachi has a massive support base of MQM.Its one or two individuals even the chief might have done wrong that don't stop them to vote the people close to them.in the local body election party symbol is important but another most important aspect who is the man in the area.These people run the lower tier of the urban party and bears strong organisational base for years to move smoothly in absence of its leaders.This is a great factor.Mass people don't exactly know who is good or bad but they remember those people who are beside them.Its not for true in Karachi, it is true for Dhaka,New Delhi or
Kolkata or Lahore
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Dec 09, 2015 04:18am
If MQM get rid of all corrupt people there will be no body left in the party
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Dec 09, 2015 10:32pm
If Punjabis are mostly corrupt it does not mean that the people of Karachi have to follow likewise. Two wrongs do not make a right. Tit for tat is self-negating.
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