Former Karachi Mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal has launched his Pak Sarzameen Party to attract dissidents of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). His biggest challenge will be to eliminate a sense of fear among people in Karachi, which may take decades.
His party may not be an instant hit, but it can lay the foundation of a popular political party of Urdu-speakers in Karachi and Hyderabad. It claims to have enrolled over 20,000 members in a few weeks and hopes to increase the number manifold in coming days. It plans to demonstrate its strength in its first public meeting next month. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan had also held big public gatherings in Karachi but it failed to dent the MQM significantly, because people of Karachi and Hyderabad vote for Altaf Hussain, out of fear or devotion. Critics claim the party robs the rich to pay the poor. Its earlier faction, MQM-Haqiqi, formed in 1992, also failed to attract people. However, the time has changes and the Rangers operation has broken many myths of the party. It can no longer shut the port city on a protest call. But, the new faction will still need time to replace the MQM.
The party, launched on Pakistan Day on March 23, is still working on its manifesto and flag. “Our party’s objective is to unite the people of the country. We are not here to grab the position of those in powers. The people should know that we all already had power and positions but we threw away the privileges for the sake of the people,” Kamal said at the launch of his party. Though it would be a national level party, yet it is understood that its scope will be limited to Karachi and Hyderabad and its manifest will revolve round the devolution of power at local level. Calling for the immediate enforcement of the local government system across the country under Article 140-A of the Constitution, Kamal said the system was a demand of every citizen and believed all issues of citizens would be addressed through it.
The new faction of the party is a major split after the formation of the MQM-Haqiqi in1992. It comes at a time when the party is already facing many threats, inside and outside the country. Though its vote bank is largely intact, yet the party has been considerably weakened after the Rangers operation in Karachi. The new faction has appeared when there are reports that MQM leader Altaf Hussain is seriously ill. It must have been a factor in Mustafa Kamal’s return to Pakistan and launch a new party.
However, the MQM chief made a rare public appearance on March 18 to celebrate the party’s 32nd foundation anniversary at his London office. In a video posted on Facebook, he can be seen enthusiastically dancing as supporters chant slogans in the background. Later, he addressed his party workers in Pakistan through video link. He requested Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to extend a friendly hand towards him, so that his party could fight shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan army against anti-state elements. Broadcasting of his speeches in Pakistan has been banned by the Lahore High Court, after which he addresses his party men through web-TV. His last address was listened at 37 places in Pakistan. On funding by the Indian intelligence agency Raw, he said why he would take funds from it if he had not taken money from the ISI. In his speech, he said the Army Chief should open-heartedly accept the MQM, so that he could win the war against terrorists. Feeling the heat of the new faction of dissidents, the MQM had to take an oath of allegiance from its workers that they will remain loyal to the party’s founder, Altaf Hussain. Senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar administered the oath to workers at Karachi’s Jinnah Ground.
Meanwhile, the new party is slowly gathering pace. After the joining of Anees Qaimkhani, MPAs Iftikhar Alam, Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Waseem Aftab have left the MQM. Its biggest success came in the form of Raza Haroon, a former provincial minister. Many MQM leaders, like Khushbakht Shujaat, Faisal Sabzwari, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Khwaja Izharul Hassan have left the country. According to Raza Haroon, there are 18 leaders who are waiting in the wings to quit the MQM. The party plans a big gathering in Karachi next month. It will be a great achievement if it puts up a decent show. Despite it, it will be difficult for the party to translate popular support into a vote bank.
On the other hand, Altaf Hussain’s public appearance has made the job of the new party more difficult. Its leaders were banking on rumours that the MQM chief was seriously ill and bedridden. There were even rumours of his death on social media. Photos of his body in a burial shroud were also posted on Facebook. “People should not listen to the rumours of his health as he is perfectly fine and looking after party affairs in London,” the party said in a statement. Despite his appearance on video link and address to the workers, some say Altaf’s condition is not good and he is facing many diseases. His mental health is also bad, they claim. Some journalists are skeptical about his video and address. They still insist he is seriously ill and the video and address were old. If he is well, it will make the task of the new party very difficult, as our past experience shows that it is hard to weaken the grip or popularity of the MQM during his lifetime.
revolve round the devolution of power at local level. Calling for the immediate enforcement of the local government system across the country under Article 140-A of the Constitution, Kamal said the system was a demand of every citizen and believed all issues of citizens would be addressed through it.
The new faction of the party is a major split after the formation of the MQM-Haqiqi in 1992. It comes at a time when the party is already facing many threats, inside and outside the country. Though its vote bank is largely intact, yet the party has been considerably weakened after the Rangers operation in Karachi. The new faction has appeared when there are reports that MQM leader Altaf Hussain is seriously ill. It must have been a factor in Mustafa Kamal’s return to Pakistan and launch of a new party.
However, the MQM chief made a rare public appearance on March 18, to celebrate the party’s 32nd foundation anniversary at his London office. In a video posted on Facebook, he can be seen enthusiastically dancing as supporters chant slogans in the background. Later, he addressed his party workers in Pakistan through video link. He requested Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to extend a friendly hand towards him, so that his party could fight shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan army against anti-state elements. Broadcasting of his speeches in Pakistan has been banned by the Lahore High Court, after which he addresses his party men through web-TV. His last address was listened to at 37 places in Pakistan. On funding by the Indian intelligence agency Raw, he asked why would he take funds from it if he had not taken money from the ISI? In his speech, he said the army chief should open-heartedly accept the MQM, so that he could win the war against terrorists. Feeling the heat of the new faction of dissidents, the MQM had to take an oath of allegiance from its workers that they will remain loyal to the party’s founder, Altaf Hussain. Senior leader Dr. Farooq Sattar administered the oath to workers at Karachi’s Jinnah Ground.
Meanwhile, the new party is slowly gathering pace. After the joining of Anees Qaimkhani, MPAs Iftikhar Alam, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed and Waseem Aftab have left the MQM. Its biggest success came in the form of Raza Haroon, a former provincial minister. Many MQM leaders, like Khushbakht Shujaat, Faisal Sabzwari, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Khwaja Izharul Hassan have left the country. According to Raza Haroon, there are 18 leaders who are waiting in the wings to quit the MQM. The party plans a big gathering in Karachi next month. It will be a great achievement if it puts up a decent show. Despite it, it will be difficult for the party to translate popular support into a vote bank.
On the other hand, Altaf Hussain’s public appearance has made the job of the new party more difficult. Its leaders were banking on rumours that the MQM chief was seriously ill and bedridden. There were even rumours of his death on social media. Photos of his body in a burial shroud were also posted on Facebook. “People should not listen to the rumours of his health as he is perfectly fine and looking after party affairs in London,” the party said in a statement. Despite his appearance on video link and address to the workers, some say Altaf’s condition is not good and he is facing many diseases. His mental health is also bad, they claim. Some journalists are skeptical about his video and address. They still insist he is seriously ill and the video and address were old. If he is well, it will make the task of the new party very difficult, as our past experience shows that it is hard to weaken the grip or popularity of the MQM during his lifetime.
His party may not be an instant hit, but it can lay the foundation of a popular political party of Urdu-speakers in Karachi and Hyderabad. It claims to have enrolled over 20,000 members in a few weeks and hopes to increase the number manifold in coming days. It plans to demonstrate its strength in its first public meeting next month. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan had also held big public gatherings in Karachi but it failed to dent the MQM significantly, because people of Karachi and Hyderabad vote for Altaf Hussain, out of fear or devotion. Critics claim the party robs the rich to pay the poor. Its earlier faction, MQM-Haqiqi, formed in 1992, also failed to attract people. However, the time has changes and the Rangers operation has broken many myths of the party. It can no longer shut the port city on a protest call. But, the new faction will still need time to replace the MQM.
The party, launched on Pakistan Day on March 23, is still working on its manifesto and flag. “Our party’s objective is to unite the people of the country. We are not here to grab the position of those in powers. The people should know that we all already had power and positions but we threw away the privileges for the sake of the people,” Kamal said at the launch of his party. Though it would be a national level party, yet it is understood that its scope will be limited to Karachi and Hyderabad and its manifest will revolve round the devolution of power at local level. Calling for the immediate enforcement of the local government system across the country under Article 140-A of the Constitution, Kamal said the system was a demand of every citizen and believed all issues of citizens would be addressed through it.
The new faction of the party is a major split after the formation of the MQM-Haqiqi in1992. It comes at a time when the party is already facing many threats, inside and outside the country. Though its vote bank is largely intact, yet the party has been considerably weakened after the Rangers operation in Karachi. The new faction has appeared when there are reports that MQM leader Altaf Hussain is seriously ill. It must have been a factor in Mustafa Kamal’s return to Pakistan and launch a new party.
However, the MQM chief made a rare public appearance on March 18 to celebrate the party’s 32nd foundation anniversary at his London office. In a video posted on Facebook, he can be seen enthusiastically dancing as supporters chant slogans in the background. Later, he addressed his party workers in Pakistan through video link. He requested Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to extend a friendly hand towards him, so that his party could fight shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan army against anti-state elements. Broadcasting of his speeches in Pakistan has been banned by the Lahore High Court, after which he addresses his party men through web-TV. His last address was listened at 37 places in Pakistan. On funding by the Indian intelligence agency Raw, he said why he would take funds from it if he had not taken money from the ISI. In his speech, he said the Army Chief should open-heartedly accept the MQM, so that he could win the war against terrorists. Feeling the heat of the new faction of dissidents, the MQM had to take an oath of allegiance from its workers that they will remain loyal to the party’s founder, Altaf Hussain. Senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar administered the oath to workers at Karachi’s Jinnah Ground.
Meanwhile, the new party is slowly gathering pace. After the joining of Anees Qaimkhani, MPAs Iftikhar Alam, Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Waseem Aftab have left the MQM. Its biggest success came in the form of Raza Haroon, a former provincial minister. Many MQM leaders, like Khushbakht Shujaat, Faisal Sabzwari, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Khwaja Izharul Hassan have left the country. According to Raza Haroon, there are 18 leaders who are waiting in the wings to quit the MQM. The party plans a big gathering in Karachi next month. It will be a great achievement if it puts up a decent show. Despite it, it will be difficult for the party to translate popular support into a vote bank.
On the other hand, Altaf Hussain’s public appearance has made the job of the new party more difficult. Its leaders were banking on rumours that the MQM chief was seriously ill and bedridden. There were even rumours of his death on social media. Photos of his body in a burial shroud were also posted on Facebook. “People should not listen to the rumours of his health as he is perfectly fine and looking after party affairs in London,” the party said in a statement. Despite his appearance on video link and address to the workers, some say Altaf’s condition is not good and he is facing many diseases. His mental health is also bad, they claim. Some journalists are skeptical about his video and address. They still insist he is seriously ill and the video and address were old. If he is well, it will make the task of the new party very difficult, as our past experience shows that it is hard to weaken the grip or popularity of the MQM during his lifetime.
revolve round the devolution of power at local level. Calling for the immediate enforcement of the local government system across the country under Article 140-A of the Constitution, Kamal said the system was a demand of every citizen and believed all issues of citizens would be addressed through it.
The new faction of the party is a major split after the formation of the MQM-Haqiqi in 1992. It comes at a time when the party is already facing many threats, inside and outside the country. Though its vote bank is largely intact, yet the party has been considerably weakened after the Rangers operation in Karachi. The new faction has appeared when there are reports that MQM leader Altaf Hussain is seriously ill. It must have been a factor in Mustafa Kamal’s return to Pakistan and launch of a new party.
However, the MQM chief made a rare public appearance on March 18, to celebrate the party’s 32nd foundation anniversary at his London office. In a video posted on Facebook, he can be seen enthusiastically dancing as supporters chant slogans in the background. Later, he addressed his party workers in Pakistan through video link. He requested Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to extend a friendly hand towards him, so that his party could fight shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan army against anti-state elements. Broadcasting of his speeches in Pakistan has been banned by the Lahore High Court, after which he addresses his party men through web-TV. His last address was listened to at 37 places in Pakistan. On funding by the Indian intelligence agency Raw, he asked why would he take funds from it if he had not taken money from the ISI? In his speech, he said the army chief should open-heartedly accept the MQM, so that he could win the war against terrorists. Feeling the heat of the new faction of dissidents, the MQM had to take an oath of allegiance from its workers that they will remain loyal to the party’s founder, Altaf Hussain. Senior leader Dr. Farooq Sattar administered the oath to workers at Karachi’s Jinnah Ground.
Meanwhile, the new party is slowly gathering pace. After the joining of Anees Qaimkhani, MPAs Iftikhar Alam, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed and Waseem Aftab have left the MQM. Its biggest success came in the form of Raza Haroon, a former provincial minister. Many MQM leaders, like Khushbakht Shujaat, Faisal Sabzwari, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Khwaja Izharul Hassan have left the country. According to Raza Haroon, there are 18 leaders who are waiting in the wings to quit the MQM. The party plans a big gathering in Karachi next month. It will be a great achievement if it puts up a decent show. Despite it, it will be difficult for the party to translate popular support into a vote bank.
On the other hand, Altaf Hussain’s public appearance has made the job of the new party more difficult. Its leaders were banking on rumours that the MQM chief was seriously ill and bedridden. There were even rumours of his death on social media. Photos of his body in a burial shroud were also posted on Facebook. “People should not listen to the rumours of his health as he is perfectly fine and looking after party affairs in London,” the party said in a statement. Despite his appearance on video link and address to the workers, some say Altaf’s condition is not good and he is facing many diseases. His mental health is also bad, they claim. Some journalists are skeptical about his video and address. They still insist he is seriously ill and the video and address were old. If he is well, it will make the task of the new party very difficult, as our past experience shows that it is hard to weaken the grip or popularity of the MQM during his lifetime.
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