Daily Times

Sir: MQM being at loggerheads with the PPP is not a new thing as there are many historical aggravations in their love-hate relationship. Not holding local government (LG) elections, stripping LGs of real powers to manage towns and cities, manipulating government job allocations for rural and urban Sindh, ethnicity controversies and other issues haunt the relationship. As if all of that were not sufficient, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari completed the task by threatening the MQM with ‘consequences’ for demanding an increased share in governance. It is generally said that such a sudden increase in friction is as per the agreed upon agenda of the two parties to play to the gallery of their respective vote banks. This is to keep the Sindhi nationalists and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) out of Sindh’s politics. Once the LG elections dust settles, both parties will patch up and move ahead together. What has upset many people is the MQM’s reaction against Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah who called the word muhajir (immigrant) an insult. Though Shah has already apologised, the MQM has gone ahead with recording its protest and observing a Black Day and taking out rallies in Sindh. This is dirty politics and we should not take it seriously, but I question the MQM about using the blasphemy laws to indict Shah. As a liberal, secular party, one would expect the MQM to strive to repeal or modify the blasphemy laws instead of using them as a tool to settle their own score. It is opportunistic politics to play the religion card. The MQM should go ahead with real demands to safeguard the rights of urban Sindh but should not set a dangerous precedent by bringing religion directly into politics.

MASOOD KHAN

Jubail

Saudi Arabia