Behind every killing, there is always a beneficiary

One of the founding fathers of MQM, Imran Farooq was born on 1960. This scintillating, charismatic and visionary man was graduated from Sindh Medical College (SMC) in 1985. It should be noted that he was elected as first parliamentarian from MQM in 1988 and then again as an elected parliamentarian in 1992. Yet, fate took a political turn, Dr Imran Farooq couldn’t stay on, due to the operation clean up which commenced on 19th June 1992 in Karachi against the party. Because of continuous menace and convulsion his liberty and life was at stake. Hence, he went underground and run the party while remaining so for years. It was rather a sweet brain teaser for the people who had put a price of his head, to dredge his strata. However, he resurfaced in 1999 in London and applied for political asylum. It was then he was made convener of the party. And he continued his duties, though apparently he was dormant for the last two years before he was stabbed to death near his apartment on 16 September 2010 in London. And there comes the influx of Sherlock Holmes (IoSH).

As per IoSH speculations since Dr Imran Farooq was sidelined by the party, it is most likely that MQM is behind the murder. Make sense. Until, we actually cognize know a simple but fundamental rule of a killing.

Behind every killing, there is always a beneficiary.

Anyone who has an iota of idea about the dynamics of MQM, would very well know that after Mr Altaf Hussain, it was Imran Farooq who was well trusted and respected by the party workers. In fact, it was an implicit understanding that Imran Farooq would take over after Mr Altaf Hussain. And this can be gauged from the party chairman, Altaf Hussain speeches, poetry and talks. Dr Imran Farooq was deliberately kept aside as the party leader understandably didn’t want him in the limelight for security purposes.

It, IF I may take a liberty to say, reflects how grey matter deficient one can be to actually think that MQM would be stupid enough to kill its most influential men and that too in London. It would be like bringing a revolt within the party itself.

Speaking of which, anyone who is without a bias mind and not born yesterday would know about the recent chants to revolt against this atrocious system by Mr Altaf Hussain. There was not even a single day when media didn’t speak out over it. People in drawing rooms and street talked about it. The echoes of revolution stirred up things so much that even rival political parties joined the waves for change.

The demand to change the system was a threat to the people who wanted to play in this system a game of musical chair. To be on odds with the existing system is a risky business. MQM took a risk and they had to pay for it too.

The loss of Dr Imran Farooq is irreplaceable. His invincible contributions in MQM and unfathomable brilliance are inexplicable. The damaged his death has done to MQM can not be easily fixed. MQM has gone two steps backwards. It is now very crucial for MQM to find someone as brilliant and capable as Dr Imran Farooq and that too in a very short time.

Turning to the army all of a sudden

MQM Chief Altaf Husain’s notorious statement has created additional uproar and confusion in an already devastated country where all the politicians have surprisingly put their differences aside and taken a similar stance regarding the next military coup. The idea of army intervention to clean out the mess created by the corrupt politicians, as suggested by Altaf, has been criticized and mocked by all the politicians who think that it is a disgrace for the country to appeal to the army.

The reason why politicians have condemned this idea is controversial. They either have faith in what they call democracy and actually believe that another military coup is suicidal or are too afraid to lose their power. Whatever the case maybe, at the end of the day it all comes down to people and what they want, after all, we are a “democratic” nation where demands of people supposedly matter. People who support democracy need to be reminded what democracy actually is. It is basically the rule of law where all citizens are given equal treatment and justice with transparency and freedom of expression is guaranteed. This is clearly not the case in Pakistan which means what we have here is not democracy but a corrupt system or the rule of elite which is lethal for the country. Altaf Husain’s statement should partly be welcomed at least for the short run because it’s either the power of the angry mob or the power of the army that can overthrow this corrupt system. A united angry mob and its ability to bring about a revolution in the country is unlikely because of all the differences that exist amongst the people. Thus, the army needs to intervene, clear out the mess, install a patriotic, faithful leader and then leave. Army intervention cannot be a permanent solution because it does not promise absolute perfection and regimes of Ayub, Zia, Musharraf provide classic examples. Moreover, as far as majority Pakistanis are concerned, all they need is someone who can take care of their basic necessities at a lower cost be it a dictator or a democratic leader.