With or Without Musharraf – A Mohajir’s Perspective

Mantolives:

It is a settled principle of law that disputes are settled according to the law in force and not future predictions.

I`m not denying that. I`m just amazed by the far-sightedness of Radcliffe / Mountbatten that one day Ahmadiyas would be stripped of their right to be called Muslims and could be arrested for greeting others in the proper Islamic way in ``Pakistan``.. And it is better for them ``non-Muslims`` to remain with India.. :-)

#612

[Chowk FP is really a rewarding intellectual community. ]

Mian Salim, stop kissing up to that utterly, absolutely, incompetent crowd of nincompoops called ``chowk staff``!

And to the ``biased to the core`` Pakistani crowds! That crowd is just as ``intellectual`` as brown poop marinating in its own ``juices``!

And enjoying its own ``taste``!

#595 by Zeena on April 16, 2007 7:41pm PT
{``Salim Mian
Suppose, Altaf Bahyya becomes the next PM of Pakistan, what are the chances of HIm taking Pakistan to a level of a really progressive country, with low corruption, less feudals and more respect for an average Pakistani citizen?
Care to share.``}

Zeena,
The chances of Altaf Bhayya becoming PM of Pakistan are slim to none. Having said that, I reiterate that we must NOT look to one person for our solutions. We should have ALL the valid parties (I firmly believe that ``religious`` parties should not be allowed to participate in politics as religious entities) present their plans and agendas. The people of Pakistan should be allowed to select their leaders through fair, open, and universally-validated elections.

But, the first thing these parties need to do is to introduce democracy into their own processes for selecting their leaders. This applies to Altaf Bhai, Bezamir, and Besharif.

It is obvious from the MQM administration in Karachi, its branching out to the rest of Pakistan, and its well-publicized agenda, that MQM is for women`s rights, for education, for minority rights, against religious extremism, against feudalism, and against the domination of Pakistan by any one province. Thanks for your participation in this interesting discussion.

Dear Friends,
I am posting Mr. Hasan Mahmood`s excellent first-hand account of MQM`s beginning and some of the causes that resulted in its foundation. Also, please read why he thinks MQM supports the government against PPP and ML(N). This is from his post to Zeena on the ``Girls Gone Wild`` article by Shandana:




#1631 by hasanmahmood on April 16, 2007 10:42am PT
Zeena,
The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don`t agree with. ~Eleanor Holmes Norton
It has been a pleasure to disagree with you. Just one more thing. You asked
``If, MQM is or would have had been sincere in it`s actions then why they never set such rallies against corruption in Pakistan? why never done anything against corrupt feudal lords?``
Despite me not liking Altaf Hussain, I do like what MQM has to say, especially about the feudal system and Woman`s Protection bill. In order to understand what MQM is we have to see how it evolved. MQM was formed by Altaf Hussain and Azeem Tariq (very intelligent person – allegedly murdered by Altaf due to power struggles) during their university days because of their stand against religious extremism and feudal lords. My father was the registrar of the university so I was living in university campus and was very close to everything. The party started because of the so-called “ghunda gardi” by Punjab Student’s Association and Jamat-e-Islami when they started harassing women and beating up male students. The main ideology of MQM was always to fight against feudalism and religious extremism. I was a member of MQM since my college days. In the middle bad times came because Altaf had no good advisor and he made some terrible decisions. That changed after educated people floated to the top. Now the party also stands up for Women as well as against Feudalism.
Now the second part as to why MQM supports Musharaf. The true answer to this question is because MQM is a Karachi party. During the Benazir, Nawaz tenure people who suffered the most were Karachiites. On one hand they were brutally murdered (Benazir’s action in Hyderabad when 1200 people died in one night) and on the other they were treated with utmost contempt by Nawaz Sharif. They had to beg for everything including money and resources. Everyday 100000 people come into Karachi. Would you know how many actually go back? The answer is not many. Anyway, finally there was a leader who was from Karachi, and was willing to let Karachi use its own money to develop itself. Finally there was a guy who did not put his cronies in every institution of Karachi. During Benazir and Nawaz, Karachi (which never used to sleep) actually used to close down at 7 pm because of the illegal activities going on. The city was in a horrible condition, roads dilapidated, no new businesses, and no resources (as everything was being used by everyone else from other provinces). People used to get their travel documents ripped up at the airport (personal plus I have heard a lot of close people rehash their stories) by these political party supporters. There was no law and order. On one hand Zardari did not have the guts (political smartness) to do these things in Lahore (as PPP needed Punjab), and on the other Zardari was destroying Karachi. He was called Mr. 10 % for a reason. That is why you will see people (MQM) supporting this government because no matter what anyone else thinks, this government has finally realized the Mohajir contribution. But that does not mean that MQM never goes against the government. Below are some links as examples.


http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=162220
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?162220
www.mqm.org/news-2006/news-2006.htm
www.dawn.com/2002/10/09/nat27.htm
www.aaj.tv/news/news.php?pg=3&show=detail&nid=49718

#599 by Zeena on April 16, 2007 11:03pm PT
anil
Yes, Salim has proved that he has the ability to keep this board cool. Of course he has shown his calm, composed and collected attitude by engaging fully with all of us.
Most of the time, FP writers do not engage with their readers............
But, Salim took his precious time out and made this board a really vibrant and lively board. ``}

Zeena,
I truly appreciate your kind words and the support and encouragement you have provided for such a long time. Thanks. This forum was particularly enjoyable because of the wonderful attitude of the interactors - pro and con. Did you know that what you are calling my ``engagement with the readers,`` some on UP (yes, the gang of scouts) are ridiculing as ``hogging`` the forum. Sometimes, there is no pleasing people who are determined to be permanent detractors.

#598 by anil on April 16, 2007 9:22pm PT
{``Salim Sahib:
You should be complemented for the efficiency, tact and humor you have shown to manage this board. Your father-in-law must be very happy to find you to manage his business.``}

Anil Bhai,
Thank you for that wonderful compliment. My father-in-law should appreciate his good fortune. :) Right now he is just consumed by being a loving grandfather. :)

#594 Zeena {``Salim Mian Wow!!! Huge success!!! ``}

Zeena,
Thanks - The success belongs to the quality of discussion and the mostly polite exchange of views expressed here. Chowk FP is really a rewarding intellectual community.

#593 Dost Mittar {``salim:
Mohajirs in Karachi:
Could it be that Mohajirs went to Karachi for the same reason that most Indians go in Canada to Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. The first UP Muslims who went to Pakistan were the bureaucrats who were asked to go there to set up the new government. It would be natural thereafter for their relatives and friends to follow them to that city. ``}

DM Sahib,
Very good point. Perhaps, you are right. Maybe that`s also why the GoP moved the capital from Karachi to Islamabad - so close to the dangerous LoC in Kashmir. I guess the PPPs were more afraid of Mohajir domination than Indian aggression. :)

#592 by teshah on April 16, 2007 5:45pm PT
{``It`s a good portrayal of sheer mataruaa mentality with no ground under its feet. He could not differentiate even between `country` and `state`. Pakistan is not a country but a federation born at midnight of August 14, 1947, by the instrument of Indian Independence Act passed by the British Parliament. In 1971, the Eastern wing of this Federal State reverted to its country-hood to render Mataruaa mohajirs as stateless people lost in wilderness in consequence of their treachery with the sons of the soil.``}

Shah Sahib,
Obviously you are joining those who find it politically and ethnically convenient to blame the victims rather than the perpetrators. Your attitude is the exact reason why this Mohajir alientation will only increase. Please reconsider your bias using compassion, logic, and justice as your compass.

#588 aquaris {``heck I have Lived through that...!! ``}

Aquaris,
So did they and so did I. Perhaps you were with the oppressors. :)

#587 aquaris {``and please acknowledge , the GREAT MOHAJIR Alienation is self inflicted, since it is confined to ONLY Two cities of this god forsaken country. ``}

Aquaris,
Perhaps the GREAT MOHAJIR ALIENATION evolved over a number of years and the following significant events combined to make it the behemoth it is today:

1. Gauhar Ayub`s state terrorism against Mohajirs resulting in many deaths
2. Peaceful and shameful surrender of Paki Army in East Pakistan with no provision for Mohajir ``razakaars,`` who bore the brunt of cruel Bengali vengeance.
3. Sindhi riots instigated by Bhutto`s campaign to punish Mohajirs for NOT supporting him in 1970/1971.
4. Massacre of hundreds of Mohajirs, including children, at the hands of Pathan tribesmen in 1986 at Sohrab GoTh with no accountability, trials, investigation of murderers by Zia`s dictatorship.
5. Army actions against Mohajirs in Karachi and Hyderabad in early 90s.
6. Continued suffering of ``stranded`` Mohajirs in Bangladesh at the hands of a shameless government`s refusal to repatriate them.

My friend, you can twist the facts all you want, but the truth and the chronology will always work against you. Thanks.

#605 by Yasser

Aww....so talking about Khilafat riles up Muslims but talking about shedding Hindu blood, whipping up paranoia against imagined Hindu domination does not? LOL!

... is it any wonder that some people here buy ``nonsense`` without even having the ability to discern what is being said.

Re: # 604

Oh yes... Jinnah - who you all claim wasn`t much of a populist- had a magic wand which he waved... and kaboom .... Muslims were riled up.

It had absolutely nothing to do with a Mahatma taking them down the rosy path of Khilafat or a famous Congress Maulana telling them to move to Afghanistan only to be humiliated ...

With such simplistic notions... which go against now accepted facts ... all history books without exception written after the Transfer of Power Papers reject this fantastic magic wand theory.

#597 by masanamuthu

ROFL.. Don`t you think Radcliffe / Mountbatten predicted the future so well that they knew ``Ahmadiyas are going to be non-Muslims`` and awarded the non-Muslim majority province to India.. :-)

Not just Radcliffe/Mountbatten, even Jinnah based his demand for Pakistan on what he foresaw for the future...he went to town about how Hindus would dominate Muslims and how the two communities could not live together..he whipped up paranoia amongst Muslims , who till then (barring a few riots now and then) had been living together with Hindus for hundreds of years.

Re: # 597

It is a settled principle of law that disputes are settled according to the law in force and not future predictions.