MQM - History and Origins Re: # 119

ahmedmadani

I am a great admirer of your writings, please do keep writing and ignore the few odd balls for they are victims of their own prejuidices.

MQM - History and Origins Re: # 78

Excuse me, I am quite sure there was nothing said to you or in your direction nor do we know each other that well to share the sacred paan, so I will respectfully decline this generous offer. Thanks but no thanks

MQM - History and Origins Re: # 71

{By no stretch of the imagination can the middle class of Karachi be described as secular and neither the vast majority of middle class Karachites support MQM. The main supporters of MQM are the people of the lower middle class of Karachi.}

When we look at Pakistan and then compare Karachi with rest of the country, then karachi is the most secular city in Pakistan. Its all relative.

Vast majority of middle class supports MQM which is evidenced by their vote bank in the urban middle class areas of Karachi (Nazimabad, Clifton, PECHS, PIB Colony etc etc). Last five years of Karachi development have done wonders for Karachi and MQM vote bank. And yes, MQM also enjoys tremendous support in the lower middle class areas, good for them.

{PMLN has become the voice of the middle class Punjabis of the northern and central Punjab (whioch is a very good sign in my opinion) and is less feudal than PPP. In the past PML has also won many seats in other parts of the country.}

PMLN has always beeen the establishment party as in 1988 when Gen Hameed Gul engineered the vote or in the nineties when NS bought his loyalties. Fact is, middle class in Punjab has little or no choice in terms of politics, they vote for PMLNS for two reasons (1) urban Punjab being conservative and educated prefers to vote for conservative policies and (2) Punjabi chauvinism as propagated by NS does create voter loyalty.

{As far as the PPP is concerned, it is the only truly political party that has vote bank throughout the country.}

True, yet the party leadership existing and past is vilified as anti-state.

{ANP cannot be compared with MQM, ANP has a very different background altogether.}

Different backgrounds, yet similar treatment by establishment declaring both parties as anti-state.

Fathers and Daughters Fatima Mirza

May God give you and your dear father a long and happy life, many many thanks for this beautiful masterpiece.

By the way, is your father a FX person, reason I ask is beause I too was once in the same line of business and coincidentally have a daughter who happens to be studying abroad.

MQM - History and Origins For the Dummies guide to MQM:

1. MQM has never propagated the idea of partitioning the current Pakistan

2. If there is ever a 'charge' for sedition against Pakistan, it was against PPP (ZAB) in East Pakistan

3. The biggest ethnic party in Pakistan is PML-NS that has always propagated and promoted Punjabi chauvinism.

4. NAP/ANP/Pakhtoon party has always propagated and promoted Pukhtoon ethnicity.

5. NAP was banned by ZAB for anti-state activities

6. PPP has also used the Sindh card when needed, give them the opportunity and they will use it again.

7. JUI is another name for the right wing minded Pukhtoons.

8. Baluchistan political parties are nearly all based on baloch nationalism.

9. Sindh has their share of nationalist parties with whom many other parties have and continue to enjoy alliances.

10. No other city in Pakistan has the multi-ethnic demographics of karachi, yet all criticism is levied against MQM.

MQM represents the secular, middle class population of Karachi/hyderabad, I would like to see similar parties in Punjab, Sarhad and Baluchistan, till then these elitist, fundamentalist parties have little to offer for Karachi.

MQM - History and Origins Re: # 20

Ijaz Gul Sahib

Much belated Eid Mubarak and apologies for this delayed response, Eid formalities are to be blamed.

{1. We saw day in and day out funerals crowded by MQM of men belonging to Mansehra and Faisalabad.}

Debatable and circumstantial.

{2. I am a businessman and we pay Bhatta and we know who takes it.}

Extortion or Bhatta was used by MQM, I did not dispute those charges but would like to keep things in perspective, there were other parties involved in all sort of thuggery yet they do not get the same publicity. More importantly, MQM has in the last five years presented a reformed party that wishes to become part of the mainstream and rid itself of its past wrongdoings.

{3. Back in 1992, they were getting their supplies through Balochistan and later India.}

In the 1980's, Karachi was used as the hub for all arms and ammunitions transported to the western borders. ISI alongwith their henchmen sitting in Maderssas and other Jihadi units established transport logisitices that started from Karachi and extended all the way to Baluchistan and Frontier. These supply lines were not perfect and were used for financial gains, MQM like many other parties of that time acquired their militant needs from these very supply routes.

{I say on authority that many absconders were given refuge by Mehmood Khan Achakzai. They included Safdar Baqri and Saleem Shehzad.}

Nationalists from Baluchistan and Frontier provided sanctuary to many MQM workers, first they were provided shelter in the settled areas of Karachi and then moved to other provinces. Life then was very difficult if you belonged to the MQM or had any past affiliations, I know from personal experience.

With regards to the Indian connection, Gul sahib these charges have been used against Pathans (Pakhtoon Khwa), Sindhis (Sindhu Desh) and Baluch (Greater Baluchistan). Its about time that we either stop using India as the proxy for enemy of the state or recognize the fundamental issue of federalism that requires mutual respect and equality.

{It was an ISI sponsored gang like any other that outgrew the masters, but credit to them that they are reforming.}

I appreciate and share ypur optimism. Thanks.

MQM - History and Origins Re: # 9

Ijaz Gul

Allow me to explain.

{1.Why were most of the MQM workers killed on 22 May 2007 from Frontier and Punjab?}

May 12th, 2007, your assertion is unverifiable nor can we claim with certainty that it is correct.

{2. When will collection of Bhatta and Coercion stop?}

Probably never, this is a universal problem and saying that only MQM is involved in such acts then you are ignoring the thuggery of fundamentalists, 10% crooks and those who have their loans written off simply. By associating MQM with petty crimes is based on ethnic prejudices and has little to do with present reality.

{3. If gun running is dominated by the rival Pathan-Punjabis, who supplies MQM with weapons?}

Good question, we all know there are no arm manufacturing capabilities in Karachi then where do these arms come from. Back in the eighties when the state of pure fought holy wars arms were readily transported from their western borders or Jihadi units looking for financial gains. That supply route still exists and has only flourished at a huge human and political cost. By the way, the era that we speak of saw nearly ALL major political parties supporting their militant wings, some had the state blessing while others were not so lucky.

The Health and Medicinal Benefits of NFP

Brilliant, another masterpiece. My compliments to the Maestro.

Jihad Revised Dear writer,

I am not sure whether you are an apologists for these extremely dangerous people or simply a liberal trying to find a palatable conservative. It really doesnt matter, your alternative is just another circular method to get to the same, killing innocent people in the name of religion.

This is not the first time nor will it be the last when people with extremist views and violent methods have tried to impose their viewpoint on others, nor has there been a dearth of moderates trying to find balance in society. But the real solution has always come from a state that offers better alternatives, the will and means to impose rule of law. Point being, we need the state to take responsibility and religious lobby to be subservient to the state.

We Have Met the Enemy and the Enemy is Us! Re: # 79

Thankyou Sir, now I will go and watch that moron Henry Paulson con the American tax payer by another 700BN dollars, only in America.

We Have Met the Enemy and the Enemy is Us! Re: # 72

cyclone

Just for clarification purposes, I do not advocate splitting of the country but like any concerned citizen willing to look at all of the options before they hit us in the face.

We Have Met the Enemy and the Enemy is Us! Re: # 65

Pessimism? I will respectfully disagree, realist who wants to look at the entire picture and not just one side of the story.

If we wish to solve our problems then there us an urgent need to reassess and re-evaluate our threats. Pakistan army is probably right there at the top, but you know what they can be managed, organized and re-modeled. The same cannot be said for the self-righteous brothers and sisters who will kill without mercy for they kill in the name of god.

We Have Met the Enemy and the Enemy is Us! Salim Sahib

We have been killing each other well before the chowkidar started to clean his house, have you forgotten the sectarian killings of the last twenty years.

I can understand and appreciate the human side of the tragedy where the state is responsible for so many deaths and that too of its own citizens, what I cannot understand or justify is the suicide killings of innocent civilians in the name of revenge. If one was to take your rationalization then history is replete with hundreds and thousands of these tragedies but none resorted to killing of innocent civilians through suicide bombings.

Taking your argument then the Kharajees acted well within their right to go and kill those who differed in their religious beliefs for it was the state that created them. And those who acted against that sect well according to your rationalization were 'wrong'.

The Marriott Bombing: ‘Pakistan’s 9/11’? Re: # 59

Mr Khyber

People u talk about are ideologically driven, for them ethnicities dont matter much. I agree with you that they have spread into Punjab but do you know their largest mosque or training center is in Karachi (Binori) which has produced some of their finest.

If you wish to counter this plague then u have to hit them where it hurts and that is their ideological and financial support center, Saudi Arabia. Hit does not imply physical hit but a public acknowledgement where the problem originates, pressure from the foreign office and executive level would stem the financial aid and passing of laws that restricts and formalizes funding based on religious content.

Finally, some honest introspection and acknowledgement is required.

The Marriott Bombing: ‘Pakistan’s 9/11’? Re: # 53

Deluded old man, it is you and only you spewing Punjoo style vitriol. As for the breakup of Pakistan, if quoting the facts and admitting our failures is a crime then I like Pavo and many others are guilty as charged. As for the Indians, well they are a much better bunch compared to your likes.

Pakistan is a federation of different ethnicities, you have to be really dumb and stupid not to know that fact. Or, simply an arrogant, elitist bigot.

If you wish to pursue this kind of ridiculous debate, then I suggest u go back to your Bhaati gate, thats where u belong.

The Marriott Bombing: ‘Pakistan’s 9/11’? Re: # 37

tahmed32 & Chowk administrators

In the past you have stated very clearly that you do not wish to respond to my posts and I have respected that decision by not addressing you directly or indirectly. You on the other hand continue to pick and choose to attack even though the referred post was not addressed to you. So, make up your stupid mind what u want, this waffling between yes and no does not cut it.

Since you do not know my parents their mention in your post shows your ingrained prejuidices and shows your true shallow, bigoted personality for what its worth.

Disagreemenst are but natural and people can be agitated but there is a decorum that is maintained unless you were born a b@stard thus have no qualms in denigrating this honorable relationship called parents.

Lastly, unlike bhagoras such as you, i continue to hold the green passport (only one) with ALL of my assets tied to that country including North and South of Pakistan. So spare me your hypocrisy and learn some manners.