Altaf Hussain - Crocodile tears by Nadia Khan

Altaf Hussain - Crocodile tears!

by Nadia Khan (from Karachi)

 

Probably, that could be the problem of all exiled or self-exiled political leaders because somehow they have to be in the news to keep themselves afloat in the pond of politics. That is exactly the dilemma of Altaf Hussain, Mutahidda Qoumi Movement founder, leader, and everything of his party, also. He wants to be in the news and now in electronic media hungrily!

 

Few days before, when the all-time-player of money-politics, former DG of Intelligence Bureau Brigadier ® Imtiaz has stirred the political pond by admitting that he had provided funds to many political parties especially the then Islami Jambhori Itehad (IJI) to fight against Peoples Party (PPP) of 1990s and the army operation of 1992 against Jinnahpur (a plot to annex Karachi and some parts of interior Sind from Pakistan and make them jointly an independent state like Singapore) was baseless including all the Jinnahpur maps recovered from MQM Alkaram Square office were fake and planted by hidden hands. Some analysts say that even though Brigadier Imtiaz has been pushed by President House silently to implicate and counter Mian Nawaz Sharif but the drama of Altaf Hussain was worth seen – it could be termed as killing two birds with one stone.

 

Altaf Hussain's speech was full of emotions, tears, and words of forgiveness. Emotions - to keep his workers engaged, tears - to gain sympathies and forgiveness - to enlarge his shorten image. For those who know the history of 1992 army operation, MQM style of political dominance in 1990s, the bahtta (taking money forcefully from business and residential community of Karachi & Hyderabad) culture supported by MQM Unit Incharges and the approach of terrorism by MQM leaders, could easily say that these tears were crocodile one. Altaf Hussain's cry when he called his 15,000 workers killing during that operation and wiping his tears, turned out be a Bollywood movie episode in which a villain trying to portray himself as hero.

 

Even though personal incidents do not contribute to history, however its worth noting to understand the working style of MQM-mafia. In 1991 when my father's car was snatched by few street guys in Nazimabad, we were told by the SHO of Gulbahar Police Station to contact NineZero, the famous headquarter of MQM. When approached, we were asked to deposit Rs.50,000 to MQM account and upon doing so, we were issued a slip to get our car back from the Police station. That's how MQM used to control Karachi in 1990s before the transformation to Mutahhida.

 

The fact is that, and could be confirmed by many former members of MQM who are still alive and had witnessed 1992 operation; it was against the criminal elements of Muhajir Qoumi Movement, the then MQM. The anti state elements were penetrated into MQM fold, few of them migrated to India during that period like Javed Langra, the recommendation letters of MQM's most favorite leader (now he is Overseas Pakistanis Minister) to Indian Consulate, Karachi to MQM hardcore members to issue them visas, are still in memories of every one in Karachi.

 

The figure of killed-workers is not exactly compiled by MQM, infact Jamat e Islami team had collected this info and published it as part of their Karachi review. Altaf Hussain by being the hardest anti Jamat person, is now forced to accept their compilation and propagate it. Those 15,000 were not killed by army alone, this figure includes those died during the period of 1992-1996 including the inter-factions killing among MQM – Altaf and Haqiqi groups and extra-judicial killing by Naseerullah Babar interior ministry during Benazir-led govt of PPP.

 

Karachi residents had witnessed number of dead bodies packed in bags, were not only meant to spread scare in Karachi but the poor deads were the victims of MQMs inter factions fighting when Altaf Hussain group was trying to recapture its strength in various parts of Karachi. From Azeem Ahmed Tariq till Khalid Bin Waleed killings all are pointing fingers at those who are near & dears of Altaf Hussain now.

 

Fortunately or unfortunately MQM is now an ally of PPP govt led by Asif Ali Zardari, so Altaf Hussain in his emotional speech has singled out PPP and tried to laminate the blame on only Nawaz Sharif during 1992 operation. If Altaf Hussain really felt the pain of his party-workers killed during Army operations then he has to condemn Naseerullah Babar's operation too as it was too cruel to 92s cleansing!

 

Similarly, in his first ever televised speech, when he was saying that "I was loyal to Pakistan , I am and I would be.." there would be many Karachi residents who know the history of FIR lodged on 14^th August 1979 (SP/E/CE/89-37657 Karachi) when Altaf Hussain along with Afaq Shahid & Haseeb Hashmi was leading a procession at Mazar e Quaid shouting slogans against Quaid e Azam & Pakistan. After that three along with others had torched the flag of Pakistan and later they replaced the flag of Pakistan with a black flag on Mazar e Quaid. Altaf Hussain along with 11 others have been arrested and later awarded 9 months jail with 5 lashes each.

 

When Altaf Hussain was shedding crocodile tears about Pakistan and his workers, I was holding the copy of said FIR and laughing!!!! With a view that Altaf Hussain was initially under the influence of G M Syed (Jaey Sindh) and various copies of MQM's main organ Daily Qoumi Akhber are witnessed that he was, for many years, been asked to return to the main stream of national politics. Basis on that he had transformed Muhajir to Mutahidda Qoumi Movement.

 

I was bit surprised when Hamid Mir in his famous CapitalTalk show tried to hide all such facts while speaking with MQM's spokesperson Waseem Akhter. Originally the above mentioned FIR against Altaf Hussain was lodged basis on Hamid Mir's investigation (and a report which was denied publishing in his newspaper where he was reported then).  

 

The memory of Lahore residents is not faded, when in Santnagar there have been killing of 12 people of same family. Their killers were not caught. During those days Hamid Mir was reporter in his newspaper of Lahore section. He had investigated and found that these 12 men have been killed in a doubt of being Afaq Ahmed & Amir Khan, the then dissidents of Altaf Hussain and were hiding in Lahore . Hamid Mir had reached Afaq & Amir and conducted their interview. When he brought this story to his Lahore newspaper, the editor-in-chief had refused to publish it. Finally this story was published in the "Inside Story" first edition in November 2001 under the editorship of Tahir Pervaiz.

 

The details of all torture cells were revealed by both Amir Khan and Afaq Ahmed, the then hardcore terrorists of Altaf Hussain's MQM. Thats how they have been used by Army and agencies to know the exact locations in Karachi. Later & still now, they have been termed as Haqiqi terrorists; no matter they are master of terrorism when they were blue-eyed boys of Altaf Hussain and now also when they are not associated with Mutahidda! Because they have been trained for this activity and they will continue to do so. Pak Army in 1992 and later Naseer ullah Baber only utilised them to point out the torture cells managed by MQM.

 

At this stage Karachi residents are asking from Altaf Hussain to show moral courage as his policies have been failed miserably in last 20 years. No one in MQM knows about quota system, repartition of Biharis, and welfare of Muhajir community. The whole activity in MQM fold is to listen Altaf Hussain's telephonic speeches and that's all!

 

Is this the reason for that MQM was formed?

Karachi Illegal Electricity System & Political Parties by Nadia Khan

PAKISTAN: Karachi Illegal Electricity System & Political Parties

 

By Nadia Khan (from Karachi)

 

I have parked the car near a roadside shop in one of the most famous vicinity of Karachi, called North Karachi, formerly it was known as New Karachi. I was trying to understand as how electricity is being theft & the most famous Kunda system functioning in Karachi. The whole area appeared to be quite congested, thin lanes where cars couldn't enter, the road outside small houses were not even 40 feet, and interesting to know is that Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) electric poles were so close to house galleries that you could touch the wires, if you like. Then by using a rubber glove you could connect the light from the pole itself using a Kunda without taking the connection through to regular electric meter provided by KESC.

 

That's the beginning of Kundas system – a way to get electricity illegally and hence without paying any bills or charges at the end of the month.

 

Karachi is having five such large vicinities starting from Lasbela till Surjani Town where more than 2 million people live. So be it Golimar congested lanes or Liaquatabad area, or New Karachi till Surjani Town, or the large area of Malir or Orangi Town district every where a vast majority of residents is using Kunda system – means electricity illegally. With a careful calculation, approximately 40% of electricity is being theft in Karachi only by "poor" residents.

 

Beside residents, number of commercial organisations pay an under-hand amount to KESC area lineman and get their factories connected with main power stream illegally. The reason is quite obvious – free electricity, no bills, no hassle to go to KESC office for regular connection & long waiting even in some cases it takes a year or so to get authorized connection legally or simply to pay commercial tariffs.

 

"There's another technique to run the electric meter in reverse direction, so the more electricity you consume, bill will be less as meter is counting in reverse order," says Ahmed Siqqidui, a local resident of Malir district. "There are other means & ways, probably taught by KESC linemen or Pakistani janta is quite sharp in inventing illegal ways, to stop the electric meters," says Razi Bano of Orangi Town.

 

Beside this poor class and commercial organization owners, the feud-political elite class is also involved in electricity theft as & when needed. So when Khursheed Shah federal minister resides in Karachi, when arranged the marriage ceremony of his son, all the street lights of his area including his villa remain powered up –even during day time- for 10 days. Obviously the connection wasn't legal and famous Kunda system was used for this theft. I have been told that it is a common practice that for marriage ceremonies most of the electricity is used directly from the poles – with no meter & no bill.

 

Since the departure of Musharraf, the residents of Karachi are suffering from electricity shortage. During some occasions, there's no electricity for even 17 hours continuously in a day.

 

Mutahidda Qoumi Movement (MQM) claims itself as the sole representative of Karachi and winning all types of elections – local bodies, provincial and national assemblies' since 1988. Over 20 years, none of their member has raised concerns about Kunda system of theft of electricity. One of the reason, as their constituencies are mostly in those five vicinities of Karachi, so they can't take risk of losing the election if they come out with plan to remove all Kunda systems. There will be –most likely- people resentments if there would be crack down against all illegal electricity connections.

 

Until very recently, when the ship of KESC was about to sink, they came out with an idea to acquire Fatwa (religious decree) against electricity theft but somehow it didn't gain momentum in mass as it appears that there are dual standards. Elite or political class will not be charged against any crime, including slighter electric theft, but charges will be imposed on poor's without any notification. That has witnessed that whole society is marching towards mass-corruption and when it comes to personal gains no one care any moral values.

 

There are other political parties active in Karachi such as PPP in Leyaari district or a powerful group of Awami National Party (ANP) presence is there in areas such as Sohrab Goth or Banaras or Lasbela areas but the question remains same – none of the political figures have this much courage to ask masses to avoid electricity theft. Likely, this could be asked by someone whom himself is not indulged in such commercial crimes, but none. This paints the very grim portrait of Pakistani society – where the majority is moving towards larger corruption.

 

Either it is a rickshaw driver, or a fruit seller, or political activist of MQM, or interior minister, or the President of Pakistan – all are dependent upon National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) otherwise all type of crimes they committed, in past, are always there for their opponents' to implicate each other!