Where to go from the frying pan?

[Mirza Ghalib]

Where to go from the frying pan?

The MQM dilemma for Nawaz Sharif

Shaheen Sehbai

THE SWIFT and ruthless, almost military, sweep against the MQM offices and

establishments in Karachi, including the personal home of Altaf Hussain, No. 90 in

Azizabad, shows the intensity of anger and severity of the military establishment

against politicians who cross the red line.

Within hours of Altaf Hussain's indefensible diatribes against Pakistan, without

even determining which laws were being used for charging any one, the MQM

offices were shut and sealed by a Magistrate, bulldozers went into overdrive and

started demolishing what were called illegally occupied buildings and the message

was sent that when action was required, it would be instant, brutal, effective and

without consideration of any political consequences.

Even before the political governments in Sindh and Islamabad could figure out

how to handle the latest, though not unfamiliar, outbursts of Altaf Hussain in a

state of half or full drunkenness as the MQM leader Farooq Sattar indicated, the

mighty military machine was in action, leaving some very critical and difficult

choices for the political set up.

Now that the MQM supremo in London had been unofficially, and practically,

(though not officially and legally), declared a traitor against Pakistan - which he

almost proved by his subsequent telephonic but recorded conversations with his

supporters in US, Canada, South Africa and Europe - his party in Pakistan had no

option but to disown, condemn, discard, and finally abuse him, if needed.

Farooq Sattar, who had been just recently named as the successor in Pakistan by

Altaf Hussain, had to take U-Turns after U-Turns, moved around in circles and

tried in vain to protect his boss, but still could not declare independence from

London.

He was caught in a net that left him with no choices other than to survive by just

dumping his leader in the media. If he had to survive he had either to disband his

party or get officially banned by the government under intense and continuing

pressure from the GHQ in Pindi.

Sattar, who was just a housemaid of Altaf Hussain for all practical purposes, has

or had no clout or guts to declare himself a leader, although he heads the legal
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entity called the MQM of Pakistan which is registered with the Election

Commission.

But that is why he had been picked and backed by London for all these years.

He was a trustworthy guy with no balls to challenge his boss.

So whatever Sattar tried, he failed as pressure mounted on him to resign his seat

and either quit politics, leave Pakistan, or seriously join the others against Altaf

Hussain.

That is where Nawaz Sharif and his federal government have been caught in a

major political crisis.

If Farooq Sattar collapses and resigns, or disbands his legally registered MQM

under pressure, at least 25 National Assembly seats, almost 60 Sindh PA and

scores of local government seats including three elected mayors, will become

empty, forcing the electoral process to order fresh elections.

The argument that Farooq Sattar is the legal head under ECP rules does not hold,

as Sattar is guided by the constitution of MQM, which gives veto powers to Altaf

Hussain who has never considered it necessary to appoint any chairman, secretary

general, executive committee or parliamentary board. He runs the show with

"Contact (Rabita) Committees", totally under his thumb in Pakistan and London,

which by the way have no legal status any way.

So if the MQM of Sattar is banned, Nawaz Sharif is left with a huge gap in the

parliamentary structure that will have to be filled through elections in 90 days.

Combined with the increasing street pressures in Lahore and Islamabad by Imran

Khan and Allama Tahirul Qadri, who are both bent on jamming the federal and

provincial capitals on Sept 3 and thereafter, a by-election on 100 plus seats in

Sindh makes it a horrible prospect, multiplied by many unknown factors.

If MQM is not banned officially, the sealing and bull-dozing of some illegally

occupied and some very legal structures like the 90 home of Altaf Hussain will be

challenged in courts and increase the tensions between the civil and military set

ups. Who will explain why and what action was taken and who ordered it is a

mystery yet to be resolved.

Nawaz Sharif diffused some tensions despite immense mental agony, when he

had to concede three days ago to the appointment of the new Federal Defence

Secretary, a nominee of GHQ, although the PM House had refused to do so few

days back.

The GHQ did not budge, as it is clearly understood that any irresponsible action

by the PM House, like the one in 1999 when the ISI chief was named and crowned

as the new COAS when Gen. Musharraf was still on a flight to Karachi, has to be

checked at the level of the Defence Secretary. Without his official notification no

change can take place.

Reports in Islamabad say messages were sent through Shahbaz Sharif and

Choudhry Nisar that PM House should not repeat the foolish stubbornness of pre- Musharraf days, as
it could again turn out to be fatal. The PM is probably listening,

or gaining more time.

Reports also say Islamabad has been told in clear terms that no scandal or

stupidity like the elevation of General Raheel to Field Marshal Raheel, should be

propagated through any "chirya" or "Kabootar" in the media as it would be

considered as an attempt to create a mutiny in the khaki ranks.

Given these tight and firm positions, the MQM leader has landed the entire

political set up in the frying pan. The message sent by Pindi is that if action became

inevitable, it would be taken in the same manner against people and politicians like

it was taken against offices and centres of MQM --- instant, sweeping, ruthless and

without any fear of consequences.

If Nawaz does not hold his nerves, the eggs and chicken in the frying pan could

land in a real fire.

[Mirza Ghalib]

Echoes of the Heart—30-08-2016
By: Ghulam Akbar

Avoidance of enhancement in Modi’s
displeasure is a political goal for MNS

The question that has been bothering my mind recently---and, I am sure, is bothering the minds of many in the country today--- is: Why is our Prime Minister keen to keep alive the legacy of a confirmed traitor in our country’s politics? Why is Mian Nawaz Sharif making every effort to do “damage control job” on behalf of Altaf Hussain?

The crimes that Altaf Hussain has committed against this country in general, and against humanity in particular--- are not just his individual crimes. He alone cannot be regarded guilty. All those who had been aiding abetting and advocating him must be made to share his guilt. If he is guilty, everyone who has championed his cause, and raised him to the pedestal of a demi-god is guilty too.
Altaf and his cronies had prospered in Karachi on the agenda of ethnic hatred and organized terror.
I am inclined to compare his MQM with Hitler’s Nazi Party in very many ways--- except that Nazis were great German patriots, and Hitler was on no foreign country’s payroll. But Altaf certainly excelled in simulating Hitler in the manner the targeted individuals or groups were terrorised.
And Hitler didn’t do it alone. His party-machine was under his control and command.
In Altaf’s case, the same is true too. Nazi Party was outlawed once Hitler was gone. Nawaz Sharif wants to keep going and operating, the ‘Draculean Party Machine’ Mr Altaf Hussain created.

Why?
Just for political benefits?
Yes there are benefits for MNS in having anti-Military allies in Karachi. His thinking is that if Mustafa Kamal is allowed to fill the vacuum created by the elimination of Altaf’s legacy, the military’s hands will be strengthened. And that will not please MNS’s personal friend--- Mr Narendar Modi---

[Shimatoree]

The issue is not the ruble's that Nawaz Sharif faces..........but will PINDI act now or too late!

Pindi must have a plan-( they do)- so one questions remains and that is WHEN ?

The CJ of the supreme court is unable / or unwilling to DYE his beard properly.......so what can you expect from him. He is counting his own days and looking forward to his retirement .

Fortune is certainly a dumb entity as it smiles a lot of times on those that are incapable and incompetent for the occasions.
Such is your current CJ.

The one unknown left is Raheel Shareef and time will tell us what he is made of.....SOON

[Mirza Ghalib]

In a few well chosen words, Shim, you have summed up our own expectations in the matter of what awaits Pakistan next. We take heart from your conviction that Raheel Sharif does have a plan. But so far we've seen no signs of it, alas. He's a great soldier, no doubt about that, but when it comes to politics... he's left us in a state of wonderment. Is this the Pakistan he plans to leave us with. Is this what his invicible patriotism dictates? Well, time will tell. We second all you had to say about the SC and our Chief Justice. A pity that. We even find ourselves missing ex-CJ Iftikhar Chaudery. And that's saying a lot. Oh well, time will tell no doubt, but for the moment we find nothing really good on the horizon as regards the future of our poor Pakistan.