THE NEWS
After Imran Khan’s large public meeting in Lahore on October 30, there has been a significant thaw in otherwise tense relations between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
Immediately after his jaw-dropping power show in the heart of provincial capital, MQM supremo Altaf Hussain issued a statement through Nine-Zero, congratulating the PTI chairman for his successful rally.
In return, Imran has also considerably softened his stance against MQM and in a news briefing here at his party’s central secretariat on December 04, he almost parried a question about the Muttahida. “I will like to talk more on those who have been in government turn by turn instead of commenting on a party that has 20-25 seats in the National Assembly,” quipped Imran, when a journalist asked him about the fate of his application he had filed with the Scotland Yard against MQM leader Altaf Hussain for his alleged indulgence in killings in Karachi.
By this sea-change in his approach towards the MQM, Imran directly or indirectly has deliberately tried to send a positive signal to Altaf’s party, as he knows well, holding a successful public meeting without Muttahida’s blessing may be very difficult if not impossible.
The PTI has fixed December 25 for its public meeting in Karachi, the mega city that houses around 20 million people and is the MQM’s power-base. Its electoral strength is reflected in even in 2008 general election. Muttahida won 17 out of 20 seats from the port city; other three seats went to Pakistan People’s Party.
Imran had boycotted the last electoral exercise, whereas he could manage to bag only single seat in 2002 elections. His party’s representation in Karachi is often viewed symbolic and the December 25 rally can be a litmus test of his growing support there.
But the signals are not only positive but quite encouraging from MQM and whispers can be heard, hinting at a possibility of Altaf and Imran coming closer and this may ultimately lead to formation of an electoral alliance. “We shall welcome Imran in Karachi and accommodate him,” remarked a close aide of Altaf and member of the MQM’s Central Executive Committee Zahid Malik, when The News contacted for his comment on PTI’s planned event.
He contended it was a democratic and constitutional right of every political party to hold public meetings and activities in any city or part of Pakistan. He added MQM would never impede PTI or any other party’s meeting.
MQM Central Information Secretary Wasay Jamil told this correspondent that his party leader was perhaps the only one or the first, who congratulated Imran. Wasay wished good luck to PTI chairman for his slated public meeting.
Asked how would he comment on Imran’s statement a few months back that the MQM was a very good party and had a realistic manifesto but wished it shunned militancy through its militant wing, the Muttahida information secretary rejected it and said a political party could not flourish as his party had over the years through militancy and asserted his was a political party, having no such wing.
“We don’t think Imran still believes in this since perceptions are perceptions while a reality is reality,” Wasay maintained and pointed out it was his party that called for an across the board operation to bring back peace in Karachi. And ultimately, the federal government agreed to it and results were before people.
About the chances of the MQM and PTI joining hands, he said it was too early to say anything. A similar view was shared with this correspondent by PTI Information Secretary Omar Sarfraz Cheema.
Cheema said his party would take up this option at the right time and consider joining of hands with like-minded parties or groups.
