Daily Times

The ambiguity over possibility of an alliance between ruling party-in-waiting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Mutahidda Qaumi Movement — Pakistan (MQM-P) has been resolved. The two parties on Friday entered into an agreement whereby MQM-P announced its support to PTI for formation of government at the centre. Politics – as they say – makes for strange bedfellows. Not too long ago, PTI chief was demanding investigation into MQM’s alleged links with Indian intelligence agency RAW. MQM leaders have also been critical of Imran Khan. Prior to elections, Khan had stated categorically that PTI would prefer sitting in opposition than form a ‘loose alliance’ to be in government. That the PTI chief was unable to keep his word and ended up burying the hatchet means the joint opposition’s announcement to give him a tough time in the parliament did have some impact.

The closeness between the two parties is a far cry from their squabble post-elections in 2013 when PTI accused MQM of having an involvement in the murder of its provincial leader Zahra Shahid. Nevertheless, PTI leaders would know how to justify the unusual development. They will likely cite MQM-P’s disassociation with MQM-London and say the current leadership is free from the influence of Altaf Hussain, who was the real ‘troublemaker’.

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The question now is that what the outcome of the alliance will be. MQM-P leaders have stated that the PTI has pledged to introduce reforms in Sindh’s police department, establish a university in Hyderabad and carry an audit of the constituencies pointed out by the MQM-P. If this is indeed the case, then the alliance can be termed a good omen for the people of Karachi. The most significant part of the agreement between the two parties is that Karachi operation will be reviewed ‘in its totality’. MQM has long been alleging that the operation was politically-motivated and included extra-constitutional killings and abductions of its workers. It therefore might be an opportunity for the MQM-P to get its grievances related to the Karachi operation heard. Moreover, it will be interesting to see how MQM-London responds to the development. *

Published in Daily Times, August 4^th 2018.