Asif Hanafi – Blogging from somewhere

For those of you who were following the Youth Advisory Council (around 3000 members) and Professionals Research Advisory Council (around 6000 members) and if you haven’t realized than do note that both organizations have been dissolved by the Rabbita Committee.

The Youth Advisory Council in its almost two years of existence has very little to show and will soon be forgotten if they haven’t been forgotten. There objective to target the 2% as MQM covers the 98% was never reached and because of lack of activity they were shut-down. This is of course mere speculation as there official statement is they were merged with PRAC to form COP which is known as Council of Professionals.

Professionals Research Advisory Council were the bigger ones with comments, statements on every topic in Pakistan from the army to the mullahs to the rights of women, although they had a lot of energy they at most times wasted that energy in engaging in online wars with rival political parties on who is the best. They also changed sides as they pleased in order to prove there point, in one case when Zaid Hamid spoke against other political parties, the PRACers as they like to call themselves were posting his videos all over, now there against him because he isn’t making statements that they can use.  I’ll talk about Zaid Hamid another day.  PRAC was dissolved and the official line is that they will merge with YAC to make COP.

Since this is a blog and its my blog I am entitled to my perception. I think both organizations had there plus points and there negative points and the sudden closure of both groups to form COP was and still is a rash decision. The announcement was made from one day to another with no prior notification, discussion or debate with the members as a whole to get there opinion as what went wrong and what could have been to avoid the bad decisions. Now in the midst of almost 9000 members shared between those two group from all around the world they wake up to find out that they now have to join COP. This is probably the worst re-branding or re-launching strategy I have ever seen. I have never quite understood the fascination of MQM with naming there organizations as advisory or professionals, but I suppose thats what happens when you don’t talk directly to your target market.  If you want to go after the 2% than rest assured that having advisory or professionals in your name is not going to lure them from there mansions into the arms of MQM.

In order for MQM to penetrate the affluent areas they need to sit down with young socials who have no real interest in politics or MQM and get there feedback. Organize a committee of local and international Pakistanis in within the 2% and ask them what type of organization should be formed and what the organization should do.  Don’t thrust down protocols and procedures, like address each male member by there first name and add bhai, i.e. Asif  ”bhai” or when speaking about multiple MQM workers call them “saathi”. Let them set the agenda, let them focus on education, career development, information analysis, building international relations and so and so on. Don’t let them engage in political issues or defend the image of certain people or promote MQM.

Because MQM never took YAC or PRAC very seriously, all those two groups really ended up with and again this is a generalization were MQM activists who would on a regular basis cry out Altaf Hussain’s name and scream “G A MQM” at every opportunity.

The silent majority in Karachi specifically look up to MQM to deliver results and to improve lives and if MQM can’t come up with a way to reach out to them than they will always remain the silent majority.

Its been a week since the formation of Council of Professionals and nothing has been announced, the formation of Council of Professionals should have been pre-planed with clear-cut objectives and a respectable team, however its clear that COP is the retirement home for YAC and PRAC and not much can be expected from this new organization.

Having watched the speech of Altaf Hussain on his 56th birthday, where he promised to bring the much needed change in Pakistan. He claims that MQM can solve the sugar crisis, the wheat crisis, the suffering of the Kashmiri’s and the Serakis. On a number of previous occasions MQM has lent moral support to their balochi counter-parts.

Most people would laugh off Altaf Hussain and MQM as just another corrupt organization, however out of all the present political organizations MQM is the fastest growing and possibly the least corrupt.

Having made the above statement, in no way do I defend that MQM has no corruption, I am quite sure on its lower levels and unimportant ministers there is wide-spread corruption. This basically means that “people” mis-use the political and street power of MQM for their own personal advantage.

However their are certain leaders within MQM that I have come to respect and admire, Mustafa Kamal, Haider Abbass Rizvi and Dr. Farooq Sattar. Out of the three Haider Abbass Rizvi is one man who whenever he speaks, people listen, he is ALWAYS well dressed, rarely raises his voice and talks about the facts. A number of people when asked who should become the next prime minister of Pakistan unanimously chant Mustafa Kamal, I however beg to differ. Mustafa Kamal as hardworking as he may be does not possess the character and personality of an leader. He can rule, yes. But can he lead? Haider Abbass Rizvi on the other hand, seems always to be well prepared in all his TV shows and speeches and more importantly, he gives the impression that he has a vision for Pakistan.

However, MQM has a long, long way to go before they can be consider presenting a serious candidate and for that they must adopt best practices, modify their organizational structure and spurt out ONE message only. The number of social groups that have sprung up online some official some unofficial seem to project a more racist MQM and a Altaf Hussain MQM only.  The time has come where Altaf Hussain must realize that in order to win Pakistan over, it will take more than a few of his speeches. MQM would need to attract more educated, subject-matter experts into its organization in order to build an efficient government. Political parties in the past have always assigned ministries AFTER they have been elected into power. Its time that MQM sets the stage apart, and highlight key individuals who will run those ministries after election.

Less than 3 years left to find an energy expert, agriculture expert, education expert and a commerce expert.

The clock is ticking, and the people of Pakistan are getting tired and restless. Its time MQM takes the steering wheel with Haider Abbass Rizvi in the driving seat and give Pakistan the “leadership” it so desperately requires.

If they are to win the elections in the coming years, its imperative they penetrate Lahore and to do that, they need to first united Pakistan under one flag. The national flag of Pakistan.

When I moved to Pakistan in May of 2006,  I was quite skeptical of the political parties in Pakistan. Having read the history, the various news articles and hearing ambassadors, business personalities and friends, I had concluded that politics in Pakistan is something I will never take part in.

Living in Karachi the political party that made headlines in the past was MQM. MQM according to people in 2006 was involved in “mobile snatching, land grabbing and other mafia styled activities”. At first, the information was nothing new, ever since I can remember, everyone I knew warns you of MQM, to stay away for some reason or the other. “There dangerous Asif, don’t get involved”.

I heeded to that advice and kept my political thoughts to myself.

My first encounter with MQM was in 2006 “Eid al-Adha” a muslim festival where we sacrafice animals for God to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim who was ready to sacrafice his son for God.

So, every year we have a few cows and goats for sacraficing and their skin which is worth a fair amount, how much I am uncertain. Anyhow in the area where I lived, K.D.A. Officers Society a couple of boys, reasonably dressed approached me whilst I was standing outside and asked if I would be willing to donate the goat or cow skin to them. They presented themselves as workers for MQM and showed the reciepts that they give in exchange. I instantly said “no thank you” and I thought, no way will I help this Mafia organization. God knows they might come back, ask for other things. After I had said “no”, the boys said thank you, wished me Eid Mubarak and went on their way. A few hours later I saw the collecting skin from one of my neighbours so I called them over and donated two skins. What shocked me was the politeness and the manner of respect they had for an unknown individual. I don’t have no Gaurds at home and i’m not rich, infact I consider myself upper-middle class according to Karachi standards and right than and there, my image of MQM started to change.

I did some research, read about Mustafa Kamal, CDGK and Dr. Farooq Sattar. I started reading up more about the history of Karachi, the violence that erupted in the 80s and 90s, the reason why Altaf Hussain and his friends formed MQM, the student movement, the power of the youth, equal rights and above I tried to find out whether MQM is responsible for the torture cells, mobile snatching, target killings etc.

On the Internet I found no supportive evidence of any of the above accusations and having been very impressed with the construction of the bridges and roads by Mustafa Kamal, I decided that if I was to vote, I would vote for MQM.

May 12th 2007, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (whom I don’t hold in very high-esteem) was in Karachi planning to raise more support on his “unjust” firing by the then President Musharraf (who I think was one of the best leaders in Pakistan). Advised to stay at home, I spent the day with two friends watching the news channel for updates. EVERYONE predicted violence and violence there was. How much exacty is uncertain but what IS certain that EVERYONE was involved. MQM, ANP, PPP, PML-N, JI and you name it! Seriously logically speaking, when you have over one million people on the streets all comprising of different parties you are sure to have some kind of spark. The publicising of the attack on AAJ TV was the most stupidest news story out of all of them. They broadcasted for the entire duration CLAIMING to be under attack. Riight, your gaurd(s) with their rusted shot-guns prevented the onslaught right? WRONG. They were not even the target, infact all of them walked out quite all right but you see that was an important milestone in Pakistan. It was the start of “politics” as an entertainment!

The more I spoke to people about MQM the more I realised that they just hate MQM, they don’t have a real reason, if anything went wrong in Karachi the blame would fall on MQM, yet those very people refused to accept the fact that Mustafa Kamal IS part of MQM and his work speaks for himself. “No” they say, it was the previous mayor he made the plan. So my reply to them is that for the last few decades we have had planners, who have talked about the problem, talked about a plan, maybe drafted one, but never really executed it. Mustafa Kamal did the job and a job well done if I might say.

In 2008, the Youth Advisory Council (MQM) launched, I was invited by Ali Rashid to join YAC, take part. I joined the facebook group and was grossly disappointed. Some of the people there were filled with hatred for anyone non-mohajir. (For the record, my mother’s side is Punjabi and my dads side is Mohajir and I grew up in Switzerland, no idea what that would make me)

YAC started its attempt to unite the youth of pakistan, bring them on one platform to “discuss” problems. In 2009, I decided to join YAC as an executive and became part of the “Central Executive Committee”, I designed their website to what its present status is at http://www.mqmyouth.org and I attempted to set a direction and helped with strategy. I believed that there are many more qualified, educated people like myself who are interested in politics and who are interested in bringing about change.

The launch of YAC proved one thing, that MQM was keen to listen. In my very brief interaction with Dr. Farooq Sattar, I concluded that MQM is hungry for knowledge, subject matter experts, people who don’t understand politics but understand their respective fields. They want to bring in people like us, so they can ask us what we think about certain policies or what we think should be done.

That my friends in the three years I was in Pakistan, NO ONE ever asked and I had met a fair amount of people.

So today, although I am no longer living in Pakistan, I still support MQM. I’m not a die-hard supporter, yet I appreciate the efforts that their leaders undertake to make life easier in Karachi. The work Mustafa Kamal did, shortened my travel period to work by 10-20 minutes, depending on the traffic.

When I meet buzzing, energetic people who are over all dismayed with the current political situation in Pakistan, I tell them one thing and one thing only.

Pick a side.

Research what they all have to offer, read up on their past, their present and where possible their future than pick a side. Whether its PPP, PML-N or MQM, when people like us start picking sides, thats when the politics will change.

When asked by a reporter on ARY Digital to Sherry Rehman as to why she left politics she looked up, straight into his eyes and said ” No one decides when to leave politics, politics decides when to leave you”.

The future of Pakistan depends on the actions we as Pakistanis take, we can either ignore everything or we can get involved. If we ignore everything, than I highly doubt Pakistan will ever change and the political dynasties will continue, the corruption will grow and very soon we won’t have a Pakistan. If we take part, who knows where Pakistan will be in the next decade. Our first step should be to drill in our heads that we are Pakistanis first and everything else second!