PAKISTAN: MQM; Success or Failure in Punjab?
Posted on 08. May, 2010 by Jeff in World News
MQM needs to change her perceptions before she finds any ground in the Punjab
By Yasmeen Ali
MQM Militants Firing on the opponents
MQM’s effort to enter Punjab can be deemed as a historic political development. Altaf Hussain in an address many months earlier, promised Punjab an end to feudalism, while announcing MQM’s entrance in the Punjab political kaleidoscope .This is an interesting promise, considering MQM was unable to dent the feudalism in rural Sindh where it exists, much more than in Punjab. According to the MQM’s 2008 election manifesto “the prevalent feudal system of Pakistan is the main obstacle in the progress of the country and the prosperity of the people”.
Before going any further, let us identify what feudalism is. In one view, that of Marc Bloch, views feudalism as the complete system, political, military, social, and economic. He saw all of these issues centering around lordship. Karl Marx also took this perspective with one major difference; he centered on peasants. Marxism’s main emphasis is that of the plight of the worker thus in his view of feudalism only the peasants contributed to society. In another major view, feudalism is largely a political term. The political power in feudalism, these individuals claim, was treated as an individual possession and held by those who owned the land. Thus the government was ruled by the lords and royal officials who ruled over their land.
In Punjab, the majority of farmers cultivate small packets of lands. This means they need a crop whose market price is high enough and whose labor cost and input is low enough to make it a viable proposition.
According to records available, by 1999, 88 % of cultivated land in Pakistan was in farm sizes below 12.5 acres. Just over half the total farms in 1999 were less than five acres in size. This can hardly be construed as a feudal society.
However, the agricultural land is, even today, in Pakistan, a symbol of power. It has been a powerful tool in the hands of those who entered in the corridors of power, using it as a springboard. For years, Pakistan has had it’s share of “feudals”. The image of the “cruel feudal” has been reinforced by media. Though true in a number of cases, it is also a fact, that the feudal plays the role of the government, in the rural areas. May it be an issue of a woman being kidnapped or running away with her love, may it be a dispute owing to loans, may it be a dispute owing to water or land, these cases are resolved and settled by the “feudal”. Very few, go the thana (Police Station). Even if they do, the costs of the case are covered by the “feudal”.
What MQM will do well to realize is that “families” in Punjab, the “Biradari (clan) System”(Tribal Loyalty) hold sway. This phenomenon is totally missing from Muhajir Community in Sindh. Biradari system is not to be confused with feudalism. However, the main large, traditional holdings continue only in Sindh, where, as I already pointed out, MQM was unable to make changes.
In Sindh, MQM owes it’s thumping success to a number of reasons. There was no conflict between the Muhajirs and Sindhis prior to 1947. Though non locals controlled trade in Sindh even then, their culture, language and heritage remained un threatened. The huge flow of Urdu speaking who migrated to Sindh and the outflow of Hindus created a shift in demographic make up of Sindh. Added to this was the new imposition of Urdu as the official language creating frictions within the locals.
The Muhajir Qaumi Mahaz (MQM), was a party formed to represent the interests of the muhajir community in Pakistan, founded by Altaf Hussain in 1984. The MQM had its origin in the All-Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization at Karachi University. It has had an resounding success in urban Sindh, in laying down roots and strengthening it’s hold over the muhajir predominant population, through all means at their disposal.
In Punjab, MQM will not find the ethnic base , the sentiments of which it plays on, in it’s hometown. Yes, There are issues that need to be addressed. People are disillusioned and disenchanted because of the multidimensional problems faced in their day to day lives. Some may relate to steps that need to be taken by the Federal Government. Others may relate to steps taken by the Provincial Government. The question that rears it’s heads is: to what degree can MQM be of practical help in addressing these problems by developing a pressure group in Punjab? In the vacuum created by lack of Good Governance, a new entrant will make a dent.However, to what degree this will happen, needs to be seen.
The writer is a lawyer and currently teaches in the Mass Communications Dept. of the Beacon House National 
University. She also owns and moderates her blog.
Yasmeen is a regular contributor to Opinion Maker.
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22 Responses to “PAKISTAN: MQM; Success or Failure in Punjab?”
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Laila Isphandyar
08. May, 2010
Excellent analysis. True, fuedalism is a “na’ra” only. MQM needs to understand,with a strong media people are not so gullible anymore!
Ijaz Khan
08. May, 2010
It would be fair to say that the MQM has been a largely Karachi-based but increasingly urban-Sindh phenomenon wielding immense political influence in those areas and that most people in the Punjab have looked at the party, its tactics and its leadership with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The party?s leader, Altaf Hussain, who is now a British citizen and has lived in voluntary exile in London for over 18 years still seems to hold total control over the party and his phenomenon is even less comprehensible to many outside of the MQM?s traditional stronghold areas.
MQM has pioneered the Politics of Bodybags in Karachi since its inception. Its gangland rise from the urban ghettos to the corridors of power has been the stuff of legends and nightmares for the common people of Karachi. Its stranglehold on Karachi has come through a meticulous division of Karachi into zones of occupation called ?Units? and ?Sectors? which are run by the local ?Unit Incharges? and ?Sector Incharges? as if they were Corps Commanders. These ?Unit Incharges?, with names like Colonol Chota and Khalid Rani, are the ones who are responsible for filling the appropriate Bodybags with appropriate corpses. Death Lists are issued weekly from Nine-Zero like death warrants, and the victims are apprehended. The victim may be coming out of a mosque, leaving home for work or picking his children up from school, it matters not to the MQM Death Squads. With their hands tied behind backs, the begging, pleading victims are made to kneel in dark alleys in areas like Kharadar, Khajji Ground or Ranchore Lines, and then shot point blank in the back of the head.
The Bodybags are then dumped in places like storm drains or vacant lots to be discovered by the terrified members of the community who get the message loud and clear: Don?t mess with the MQM. It is also a well-known slogan in Karachi: ?Qaid ka jo ghaddar hai, bori ka haqdar hai? (Traitors to the Supreme Leader deserve Bodybags!)
Will they succeed in Punkab?
Anyone?
Raja Mujtaba
08. May, 2010
Mr Ijaz, you have comprehendedit very well. MQM’s views on creation of Pakistan, and their Pro India posture along with a strong perceptionthat Altaf Hussain is working for CIA and MI6 will not let him go far in Punjab, not even in interior Sindh.
Ijaz Khan
08. May, 2010
I thank you for responding Sir. Yes, one can see clearly the game plan if one reads well.I agree with Ms Ali in one of the earlier write ups that all ethnical parties should be banned.
zafar iqbal
08. May, 2010
The way mr hasan nisar,javed chaudhry ,mubashir luqman,mahr bukhari,jasmin manzoor and some others are blindly advocating MQM despite these facts mentioned in the article,indicates that the “LORDS” of the land and international chaudhrees has assigned tasks to them for this advocacy and they are doing well…the turmoil to come in ner future has specific roles for each component of the GREAT GAME…unfortunately our “DEFENDERS” have become the part of hte reat game of self destruction…Inna lillahe wa,inna elaihe raje’oon
Mehfooz
08. May, 2010
One must go in the backgrounfd of these people to understand WHY they are supporting as they are/ Loyalty?NAH!
naveed tajammal
08. May, 2010
A very well articulated article hitting the core issue,
awareness,being the key.
well done yasmeen aftab ali !
Rizwan Beg
08. May, 2010
THANK GOD someone UNDERSTANDS politics & the role of the Landlord(call him Fuedal if U may), in rural Pakistan.This role ofcourse fills the vacuum of the government that is non existent in peoples lives!
Thank God & Thank You Opinion Maker for choice write ups!
Riz
Kum
08. May, 2010
I myself am not at all sure what this means. Is the MQM truly out on a national expansion or whether this is a move geared more towards consolidating their position in Sindh rather than actually expanding into the Punjab? What sort of political reception will they get in the Punjab, and from whom? What are they reading in the political tea leaves about the changing fortunes of the established parties in the Punjab – the PPP and PMLs – and also about the political frustrations of the general electorate? How will the other players respond to this move?
Unanswered questions,like Ms Ali said:ONLY time can tell!!!
Ayaz
09. May, 2010
Let MQM pay its taxes first. Two of the top leadership has not. Killing, coercion is part of their culture. Is this all we can put up? Where are leaders like Quaid who mesmerised crowds speaking in English to those who did not understand English?They understood hos HEART to do the best?
Amir Suhail
09. May, 2010
MQM must not be trusted. Here is few facts.Please read.
LINK:
http://www.haqeeqat.org/2009/08/27/year-wise-details-of-mqms-atrocities-crimes-of-muttahida-qaumi-movement-mqm/
Saad
09. May, 2010
Can we forget 12th May?
A.Zahid
09. May, 2010
MQM -Jewish Connection Exposed by JI
http://pkpolitics.com/discuss/topic/mqm-jewish-connection-exposed-by-ji
Mari
09. May, 2010
Ma’am I liked your balanced views.Congradulations on a well written piece.
Aamir Mughal
14. May, 2010
INDIAN WEBSITE ON MQM: Muttahida Quomi Mahaz,
(Previously known as Mohajir Quomi Movement) http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/mqm.htm
Aamir Mughal
14. May, 2010
Pakistan: Information on Mohajir/Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf (MQM-A)
Query: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USCIS,,PAK,,414fe5aa4,0.html Provide information on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf (MQM-A) in Pakistan.
Response: SUMMARY In the mid-1990s, the MQM-A was heavily involved in the widespread political violence that wracked Pakistan?s southern Sindh province, particularly Karachi, the port city that is the country?s commercial capital. MQM-A militants fought government forces, breakaway MQM factions, and militants from other ethnic-based movements. In the mid-1990s, the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, and others accused the MQM-A and a rival faction of summary killings, torture, and other abuses (see, e.g., AI 1 Feb 1996; U.S. DOS Feb 1996). The MQM-A routinely denied involvement in violence.
Afzal
15. May, 2010
You must know being a Journalist that every Political Government when ever came i power they had about 15 to 2000 Gundas with them to rule the Country. When they come into the power they loose there people to go and start killing who ever oppose to there movement. Leaders have always though that the genral public can be made fools and it is easy to make them. MQM by chance when came up they had to fight all the people referred about and hence lost about Ten Thousand workers. You are also aware that in all the Four Provinces the Government is Run by Land Lords Tribal Maliks and Chudries.
They are rich people and have command on the poor people living under there commands. While MQM representative are generally poor people and there high command changes them whenever they see any bad things coming up. No political party has done such thing before or have done now. You must also keep in mind what the main political parties leaders have done and purchased fake degrees and they had no morals.
This is my personal views and this is also what I have seen from the beginning and never went near Politics. Though Major parties invited me at different stages to join them. This is because they new I have worked for the establishment of Pakistan and also met the founder Quid-e-Azam on several occasions in my life.
saqib omer
24. May, 2010
MQM’S Slogan is “end of feudalism”, feudalism is not only dealt with farms and lands but also with humans… for instance 12th of may. MQM should first finish feudalism within it and then they should move to Punjab, i belong to panjab and i have rarely seen feudalism. I totally agree with writer, Yasmeen Ali.
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02. Jun, 2010
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05. Jul, 2010
[...] PAKISTAN: MQM; Success or Failure in Punjab? | Opinion Maker [...]
FAIZI
08. Feb, 2011
MQM NOT FAILUR IN PUNJAB PROVINCE BUT UP COMING THE FUTURE MQM HUGE VOTE IN THE PUNJAB AND INTERIOR……………………MQM ARE FAITHFULL POLITICAL PARTY IN THE PAKISTAN AND LEVEL OF THE MQM ARE NOT IN THE COUNTRY………
Can MQM be of practical help in addressing the problems by people of Punjab?
19. Mar, 2011
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