KARACHI, 30 June — The government has softened its stance toward the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in an effort to dissuade it from boycotting the local council election here on July 2. Even if this move comes to naught, the government hopes to secure at least guarantees from the MQM that its workers will not disrupt the polling process in any way.
In recent weeks the party’s leaders and workers have faced raids on their homes and offices and the prospect of incarceration over a variety of charges has loomed large.
These measures, deemed as state harassment by the MQM leadership, grew harsher following a showdown between the urban-based party and the military-led government in the past few weeks.
But the government is now talking a somewhat different language with the party’s leaders. This time it is the language of appeasement — a tongue that the MQM has heard often enough at least from previous governments.
The federal authorities have canceled the operation against MQM activists and focused their attention on hard-core terrorists in the province. The MQM responded with a pledge to restrict its protest on July 2 and ensure that polls are held in a tension-free environment.
This move may have been astute on the part of the government but political analysts feel it has perhaps come a little too late. This week the party expelled at least three of its leading activists for expressing faith in the city government plan as poll candidates.
Several advisers of the government have warned the government against entertaining any naive notions about the party. The party is known for its mercurial nature, they say.
Behind the scenes the MQM, virtually a political king maker in the southern Sindh province, may also be playing another game. Officials believe the party’s strong communication network throughout the city can be used to ensure electoral triumphs for its proxy candidates. For the time being, the party is not ready to reveal its strategy to the public.
