The new generation of MQM
In one of my previous blogs, I mentioned about the Youth Advisory Council of Pakistan(YAC). A group started by MQM and led in its early days by Ali Rashid and Ali Raza Abidi. With lots of internal conflicts YAC split. Ali Rashid led YAC whilst Ali Raza Abidi incepted Professionals Research & Advisory Council of Pakistan (PRAC).
Although during my tenure in YAC which involved strategy and web development I had mixed thoughts about PRAC and its success. I disagreed with their online tactics of degrading rival political parties, in my mind MQM is better than playing blame games. The hacking of the group and the inability for Ali Abidi to maintain basic security made PRAC a laughing stock. I met Abidi at an MQM meeting hosted by Dr. Farooq Sattar and in the small chit chat, Abidi seemed like an idealist. His only objective was to impress the higher echelons of MQM and he would not take no as an answer. There were rumours that PRAC is shutting down, MQM is fed-up with PRAC, but Abidi steered his growing group through all the stormy waters. Instead of giving up and disappearing from the new political scene, he stayed put.
Today PRAC has over 3000 members, growing at a dizzying rate and they have hosted their first summit which was broad casted live. Whether PRAC has achieved all its objective or not, they have managed one thing, they have given MQM a much needed online face where anyone can come and discuss MQM without fear of being gunned down. Abidi has established himself as a social media expert, a skill MQM web developers require dearly. He has made himself easily approachable and generally comes off as friendly and he has developed a team that works even when he is not present.
I’ve quoted this before, but in this case it applies again.
Sherry Rehman said that no one can leave politics but politics can leave you at any time.
With all the anti-prac propoganda, Syed Ali Raza Abidi still stands strong.