MQM, PPP always cover up each other’s crimes

An interview with Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman

Q. MQM is reluctant to go to the LG polls due to the unresolved issues of delimitation and the mayor’s powers. What’s your opinion on that?

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman: If the issue of delimitation was so important to them, why did they not speak earlier? MQM has always taken the advantage by using this issue only for political rhetoric. Why did they not think of it when the census was conducted? In the past too, elections were held under the same census and MQM accepted it.  The fact is that MQM and PPP both are thieves, and have always backed each other to cover-up their crimes. They have deprived the youth of their rights, have destroyed every sector including education, employment and other civic amenities. They tried to avoid a certain defeat by postponing the elections as they cannot afford to go to the public today. They are simply terrified!

Q. What is your take on the reunion of MQM?

HN: How can people who have been accused of being agents of foreign agencies in the past play a political role in the country today? We are concerned over the matter that who is interested in their forced unification and is strengthening them and why? We would not allow the politics of fear and dead bodies to re-emerge in this city. We have been fighting against the mafias for decades and would not let any conspiracy of taking take the city hostage again work.  Our workers were busy with election preparations till the end and we will not give up and will continue to fight for our rights. Time has come to bury the politics of threats and coercion.

Q. JI campaigned extensively for local body elections, while other political parties ignored it. What’s the reason?

HN: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) realised that they had lost the mandate, and together they tried hard to postpone the elections as long as they could. They even didn’t run the election campaign to ensure that the elections were not held anyway. In an effort to save each other, they interfered with the conduct of elections because they feared the outcome.

Q. Why did the JI repeatedly request the deployment of the army? Do you fear that the election will be hijacked?

HN: JI demanded the static deployment of Army and Rangers to make the election process clean and transparent. Furthermore, everyone knows how far the PPP and MQM will go to rig the elections. It is evident from the past that both parties have a track record of manipulating the election process, but we can’t let them do this anymore. We want the people of Karachi to be able to exercise their fundamental right to vote without any fear or coercion, so we demanded the static deployment of security forces.

Q. In the past, you have been saying that PTI won by manipulating the election. Don’t you think that the election can become controversial by deploying rangers and the army?

HN: JI did not want to make the role of its institutions doubtful. Of course, elections could be manipulated, which is why we demanded static deployment at polling stations and not at polling booths. We believe that if the institutions do their work, i.e., peaceful conduct of elections, then their role cannot be hindered in any way.

Q. According to the local leader of a political party, the elections will be bloody. What is your take on this?

HN: By making irresponsible statements like calling for bloody elections, they are creating panic among the people. If the institutions and the government carry out their duties diligently, there will be peace during the elections. I believe that all these fallacies are being created to keep people away from polling. In fact, those who were terrorising the people wanted to escape the elections. People will use their right to vote to thwart their plans.

Q. What sort of turnout are you expecting in LB polls?

HN: We are all cognizant of the inaccuracy of voters lists. Nearly 30% of voters are unable to cast their votes in the areas where they currently reside. Yet, I anticipate a 40% turnout in the LB polls.

Q. Why do you think that the people of Karachi will vote for JI?

HN: According to the surveys of political opinion, JI is considered to be the most favourite in the local elections and stands at number one. As many as 51% of the citizens of Karachi also want the mayor to be from JI. They are looking at JI to solve their problems because during our previous tenure, we transformed Karachi. However, PPP could not do anything in the last fourteen years. People’s hopes are tied to JI.

Q. If the MQM and PPP can come together, why can’t JI and the PTI for Karachi’s greater good?

HN: Each party is contesting with its own symbol. As far as the improvement of Karachi is concerned, I anticipate that people won’t be considering the party or the leaders, but rather those who can contribute to Karachi’s improvement. They know that JI is the only party with the utmost priority for the development of Karachi.