saturday, may 02, 2009
by dilshad azeem
islamabad: The awami national party (anp) and the jamiat-e-ulema islam (jui-f) hold their partner at the centre, the muttahida qaumi movement (mqm), solely responsible for the recent riots in karachi, though the mqm denies it.
“only the helpless pashtuns, who fled the fata and the pata under the threat of taliban guns, are being targeted in karachi under the garb of talibanisation,” anp vice president haji adeel told the news here.
Similarly, the jui-f agreed with the anp’s stance on the karachi law and order situation, and said the pashtuns came under gunfire in karachi and were being arrested. However, the mqm leadership rejects the anp and the jui-fís stand, saying only the anti-pakistan elements, whether in the form of extremists, the taliban or miscreants, will face the law enforcers in karachi.
At the same time, these three parties join hands with the pakistan peopleís party (ppp) and the pakistan muslim league (pml-n), the two mainstream political forces of the country, calling to end the violence threat in 20-million populated city.
Anp vice president haji adeel did not hesitate to name the mqm for what he claimed for hatching a conspiracy, firstly by launching a campaign of talibanisation in karachi and then carrying out action against the pashtuns.
ìall those killed or arrested are pashtuns and such a situation clearly exposes mqm’s intentions,î he said, adding, “only transporters, rickshawalas, kiosk operators and hard labourers have been shot dead or arrested or their belongings burnt in the violence,î he said.
Adeel questioned whether there was any other community, except the pashtuns, carrying on these small businesses in karachi. Adeel said the pashtuns, being pakistani citizens, enjoyed complete rights to migrate and settle in any part of the country, including karachi. ìthese people (pashtuns) had not only rejected the taliban but also preferred to shift themselves from the troubled areas where they were being forced to pick up guns.
ìthe fata and the pata were actually suitable options for the pashtuns to spread the taliban’s cause through money and arms, but they moved to karachi for earning their livelihood through peaceful means.î
jui-f secretary general maulana abdul ghafoor haideri said the muttahida was already making grounds to target the karachi pashtuns under the talibanisation excuse. ìthis is being done through a conspiracy hatched in the name of taliban.î
the pashtuns who were forced to quit the swat-buner areas, he said, reached karachi to get jobs instead of spreading talibanisation. ìthe slogan of talibanisation is merely a fraud as pashtuns in sindh or karachi have no arms.î
these people, he said, preferred to migrate from the taliban-influenced areas to karachi for their survival rather than adopting the ways of the taliban. Haideri was, however, a little bit careful as compared to anpís haji adeel in speaking on the karachi situation.
Mqm senator ahmed ali said the muttahida welcomed the pashtuns in karachi but they should be peaceful rather than spearheading the cause of the taliban. ìi swear on holy quran that the mqm is not targeting the pashtuns in karachi but wants them not to become a part of land mafia or the taliban.
ìas to why the pashtuns do not go to peshawar, lahore, rawalpindi and other big cities for earning livelihood?î he asked. The impression that the pashtuns were being targeted was absolutely wrong, ahmed ali said, adding that all those pakistanis desired to come to karachi were totally free, provided they were without arms.
ìthe threats given by baitullah mehsud are on record that the taliban can take over karachi in a single day. Under these circumstances, should not the mqm take precautionary measures to avoid any awkward situation?î the mqm senator asked.
