Syeda Mazhar
Notorious for their obscure shenanigans, Muttahida Qaumi Movement has once again returned to demand money out of our pockets. With the ongoing Operation by the Rangers in Karachi, the obviously depleting monetary reserves of the Party have caused them to resurface to, in their words, claim what is rightfully theirs. However, this time around they have adopted a rather mellow strategy to obtain what they require. At the very least, it is a relief to see them work their brain muscles not their brawn. Karachi is well known for its lawlessness and violence due to the presence of MQM and its party workers. But then again, it has a softer side. Of philanthropy and volunteerism and scouts. Unfortunately, this softer side too has become victim to the unrelenting violence – when organizations start fighting to collect more donations and the competition ultimately leads to violence. Things were done this way in Karachi. Until the Rangers decided to act. The Karachi operation had been kicked off by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on September 5, 2013, to root out crime and terrorism from the megalopolis. Pakistan Rangers Sindh is committed not to spare any criminal, which has not been pleasant news to the prevailing powerful parties in the City. MQM’s tales of extortion and their party member’s overly aggressive attitude has never been a secret. Their past has already been maligned with the crimes of collecting money through snatching of sacrificial hides, fitrana, and corruption in government departments. This money was continually sent to UK by three means, when foreign currency accounts were opened and dollars were deposited in those accounts, making the money accessible to be withdrawn from anywhere in the world. It also increased the incidents of money laundering as dignified personalities like Babur Ghauri and Ayaan Ali would take large sums of money abroad. In dire need of money and also to counter any adverse actions from the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) MQM has decided to collect money during Ramadan.
Muttahida plans to adopt methods of Zakat collections and to avoid any unexpected mishaps they have appointed women to go door to door and collect the funds. MNA’s and other leaders are expected to send out pleas for Zakat and Fitrana in the areas of their support. Similarly, money is also expected to be collected discreetly from the mill owners and sent aboard. Money laundering is again one of the chief ways said to be adopted to send the money abroad to restore the stores outside Pakistan. Moreover, money has also been and will be sent through sea launches, and routes used for such purposes were Karachi to UAE and then to United Kingdom. These ways aim to enable them to collect money and stay off the radar of the Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Sindh Rangers have come down hard on Karachi based political parties and their welfare wings, accusing them of forcefully collecting donations. Workers are being arrested, cash and Fitra slips were recently confiscated and a helpline has been set up where people can register complaints against forceful collection. Since the beginning of Ramadan, more than two dozen volunteers of Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF), a welfare organization of Muttahida Quami Movement, have been arrested by the Law Enforcement Agencies who were allegedly forcefully taking money from the citizens. This move has significantly slowed down the donation drive by the MQM and is expected to have adverse effects on their plans.
Currently, investigation is being carried out against Muttahida Qaumi Movement and its leader, Altaf Hussain by London Metropolitan Police on the charges of money laundering and provocation to torture and life threats to his opponents. Police has seized 400,000 sterling pounds from Altaf Hussains’s residence and office. The investigation into former MQM leader Imran Farooq’s murder is also underway. With all these cases, accusations and investigations, it appears that this time around, MQM is in serious trouble. Fearing raids and arrests, the KKF has slightly moved away from their traditional ways of collecting the Fitra and have modified them by sending out female workers and others volunteers with receipt books in different neighborhoods. However, the Rangers and the other Law Enforcement Agencies are able to look through their deceitful attempts. MQM, on the other hand, is desperately trying to fight off the Sindh Rangers.
No doubt, to save face, addressing a press conference at the Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said the party was left with no other option but to approach the masses and start a peaceful campaign against the biased attitude of the authorities. “It seems as if the Pakistan Protection Act, which was aimed at launching action against anti-State element, is being used against us and this is creating an impression among the masses that the MQM is being pushed out of mainstream national politics,” he remarked. What these leaders fail to acknowledge is that the public is fed up of extortion collected in the name of Fitrana and that they now have support from the Rangers who would provide protection to the public. MQM has become a mafia that collects protection money and Fitrana by using arms. Attacking local welfare bodies and their ambulances show their intentions of not working for the people rather their “God” sitting in London.
