Karachi politics: Make space for the Pashtuns

[R3SISTANC3]

Karachi hosts the largest concentration of the urban Pashtun population, surpassing Peshawar, Quetta and Kandahar. It is the largest Pashto-speaking city in the world.

In fact, by some accounts, Pashtuns make up for more than 15 per cent of the total population in Karachi.

Pashtuns contribute significantly to the economy of Karachi through business and labour. The fact that the Awami National Party (ANP) managed to win two seats in the 2008 elections is evidence for large Pashtun existence in the city. ANP, as a party, is changing and is becoming a counter-force to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Karachi is no longer a one-party city; this fact has to be accepted.

Political space needs to be given to everyone otherwise the example of Fata is in front of us.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik should stop blaming the third element and get to the root cause of the violence that erupts every now and then in Karachi.

The media needs to provide authentic, in-depth analysis for all of us to see the path to a solution; blaming the government in this case just doesn’t help Pakistan. The fact is that Karachi has a long history of ethnic violence between the Urdu-speakers and Pashtuns.

This is not to undermine the fact that other destabilising forces such as gang-warfare, weapons dealers and land mafia, but it is mainly the targeted killings of political rivals that eventually turns into such bloodshed, as we witnessed yesterday.

The ANP is a secular party that has been a victim of the Taliban militants and other than the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), it speaks against the Taliban more forthrightly than any other political force. Hence, for peace in Karachi, the ANP has to be accepted and worked with as an equal partner.

Pashtun leaders have very often called for acceptance of Pashtun existence in Karachi by the MQM. Yet, the madness of blaming all Pasthuns, rather every Pashtun, of being a terrorist prevails.

Where will this philosophy lead us?

The patriotic orthodoxy prevalent in the majority in Karachi and the majority in Punjab has already alienated the Baloch. Similarly, the Pashtuns in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan do not think any different for being cornered when we talk about loyalty to our country Pakistan.

The mantra of who is more loyal to Pakistan for their ethnicity or language they speak is absurdly nonsensical but continues unabated and demonstrated. We saw this yet again in the expressions used by demonstrators in Karachi, protesting against Zulfiqar Mirza.

The Pashtuns of Karachi must be brought into the mainstream and their existence must be accepted; otherwise peace in the city will remain a dream.

The events related to the later clash of MQM with PPP post-July 13 demonstrate that fascist tendencies are taking root and even sitting ministers of the majority party of the province can’t use their right of free speech when it comes to criticising the MQM.

Political space, which is about reinforcing the foundations of democracy, after the protests witnessed in Karachi, has become a core problem and is increasingly shrinking in the city.

One party alone cannot do justice to the diversity and complexity of the population of Karachi. This needs to be changed, to transform the power struggle into a true and representational democracy.

Karachi politics: Make space for the Pashtuns – The Express Tribune Blog

[unknownprince]

where are these Pashtuns mostly from? Which tribes? There is too much killing of Pashtuns in Pakistan via US drones (with Pakistan approval) and mob violence.

[R3SISTANC3]

where are these Pashtuns mostly from? Which tribes? There is too much killing of Pashtuns in Pakistan via US drones (with Pakistan approval) and mob violence.

Pashtun migration to Karachi has been going on for a long time. In fact many of the Urdu speakers are the descendants of Pashtuns who moved to Karachi before partition and those who were in India migrated back to Pakistan post partition. The most recent migrants are made of up Afghan Pashtuns and Pashtuns from FATA areas who came here in hopes of making a living. The "war on terror" and floods of 2008 forced many more waves of Pashtuns to migrate there.

It is becoming a giant Pashtun metropolitan in the making which is heavily mixed with Pashtuns from as far as Afghanistan.

[tor_khan]

In order to know what it is like from all sides of an argument, it is important to try to step into the shoes of the "other" side. The truth is, that despite my trying to do this, I still find myself "angry" at MQM arrogance. The movement is nothing less than a mafia built on an ethnic card that uses Pashtoons as one of their main scapegoats. Whenever, I am in Karachi, I find myself forced into the divide.

I was in Karachi yesterday (for an in-out whistle-stop visit) - the day after the riots and Karachi is and feels like a city ready to blow and on the edge. I could see the aftermath of the riots and sense the heavy tension.

The Pashtoons in Karachi are drawn from everywhere - Swat, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Attock, Quetta, Ghazni, Waziristan etc. There are Kandaharis who have some smart businesses, but none of this matters to most Urdu-speakers, who ride around, armed and on motorbikes, harassing folk and drawing unofficial "protection taxes". The police know that they do it, but they are easily bought too.

There will always be exceptions, but whilst there are "Mohajirs" (Urdu Speakers) who claim Pashtoon descent (several generations back), they do not represent Pashtoon interests or have much sympathy with the Pashtoon labourers who are drawn to the city. In fact they use their position to protect and promote their own (other Urduphones) and look down upon the Pashtoons who they think are trashing "their" backyard. The use the same put-downs, and the same jokes to ridicule. In general, television media, is also very soft on the MQM (they dominate that too).

A couple of days before being in Karachi, I was also in Kabul and Jalalabad. Sure, all of those cities could do with a tidy up, but Karachi reminds me of live gangrene - the city is just rotten to the core. It is an untidy, unkempt place with a few exclusive suburbs that are the stronghold of the Urdu-speakers, Sindhi politicians and military personnel. They are the city big shots, and there are few Pashtoons living in those areas. Considering this, how many Pashtoons can be held "responsible" for Karachi's problems.

[Shehbaz Khan]

Before ANP, MQM dominated every corner of that City and demanded those un-official taxes known as Bhatta.. There were/are other parties also who demanded the same Bhatta in different areas like Liyari was/is under Pakistan Peoples Party and Safora etc etc are under G.A Sindh.

Now what went wrong when ANP got in was that ANP started demanding those taxes in the areas where MQM had strong hold like Rabia City, Gulistan-e-Johar. There was a time a few years back when no body could get into Rabia City without the permission of MQM and today it's under the rule of ANP, so if you are a MQM supporter you can't think of getting into that area.

Here, to keep in mind that there are people in Karachi who are neutral i.e., they don't support any political party among the 8million Pakhtuns living in the city 4million are neutral same is the case with most of the Urdu speakers and others. In Urdu speakers there are communities like the Nagories who are neutral as a whole that is they don't support any political party as a nation. And when there the situation is tensed 99% times these neutral people are killed. Those with political affiliations are armed and nobody can attack them. The police can't do anything about them. Like If you know about the Rehman Dakait of Liyari (PPP), Arshad Pappu (MQM) and Liaquat Bangash aka Liaquat Tension (ANP). All are saved by the police .. Rehman Dakait was killed by the Police later when he tried to put his hands on the senior officials of PPP.

Going further about the development of the City, We have to admit that MQM in the past ten years have contributed alot to the development of Karachi, not only in the Urdu speaking areas but also in Pakhtun Majority areas like Banaras and Pehelwan Goth. To the houses at top of Kati Pahari it was city Nazim Mustafa Kamal of MQM who supplied water to them at that top. He was the one who resolved the issue of water supply to Pehelwan Goth and built that single road that you see going through the Pehelwan Goth on the other hand ANP started firing when he wanted to build the other side of the road. This is the plus point of MQM worrying about the needs of the common man let it be for any purpose.

And another major thing that differentiates MQM from other political parties is that they care for their worker .. They will go at any level to get their men out of trouble no matter to which ethnic group their worker belong. There are Pakhtuns supporting MQM, what is the reason because they are benefiting them and MQM is caring for those who support them.

Coming to the role of media, Yes I accept that some people in the electronic media are influenced by MQM like Mubashir Luqman.. But still there are people in the media who question their role the main thing is that MQM knows how to handle the media.. They are the only well-organized political party. Their men aren't drunk when they come on media they are well prepared and they have done their homework. On the other hand other parties especially ANP isn't that much organized, like a few days ago during the Kati Pahari issue Haji Adeel stepped out of the programme and left that ****er to say what he want ..
Similarly day before yesterday there was a programme on Dunya News on which they invited Ilyas Bilour (Senator, ANP) and he was literally drunk was like unable to open his eyes. So these are the issues that need to be adressed.

At the end like I always say that all the groups mostly kill the common man for their own interest. that's it !!

[Amir al Ghaznavi]

Amongst the pashtuns in karachi are there distinctions between afghan and pakistan pashtuns

[Shehbaz Khan]

Amongst the pashtuns in karachi are there distinctions between afghan and pakistan pashtuns

NO

[khushal]

The article says the ANP won 2 seats. 2 seats out of how many?

[Shehbaz Khan]

I don't know the exact number of seats from Karachi in the provincial assembly but I guess the number is above 20 :s

[khushal]

I don't know the exact number of seats from Karachi in the provincial assembly but I guess the number is above 20 :s

So in the whole of karachi, the pashtuns make close to 50% of the population and they only have 2 seats out of 20. Thats unfair.

[Toramana]

Before ANP, MQM dominated every corner of that City and demanded those un-official taxes known as Bhatta.. There were/are other parties also who demanded the same Bhatta in different areas like Liyari was/is under Pakistan Peoples Party and Safora etc etc are under G.A Sindh.

Now what went wrong when ANP got in was that ANP started demanding those taxes in the areas where MQM had strong hold like Rabia City, Gulistan-e-Johar. There was a time a few years back when no body could get into Rabia City without the permission of MQM and today it's under the rule of ANP, so if you are a MQM supporter you can't think of getting into that area.

Here, to keep in mind that there are people in Karachi who are neutral i.e., they don't support any political party among the 8million Pakhtuns living in the city 4million are neutral same is the case with most of the Urdu speakers and others. In Urdu speakers there are communities like the Nagories who are neutral as a whole that is they don't support any political party as a nation. And when there the situation is tensed 99% times these neutral people are killed. Those with political affiliations are armed and nobody can attack them. The police can't do anything about them. Like If you know about the Rehman Dakait of Liyari (PPP), Arshad Pappu (MQM) and Liaquat Bangash aka Liaquat Tension (ANP). All are saved by the police .. Rehman Dakait was killed by the Police later when he tried to put his hands on the senior officials of PPP.

Going further about the development of the City, We have to admit that MQM in the past ten years have contributed alot to the development of Karachi, not only in the Urdu speaking areas but also in Pakhtun Majority areas like Banaras and Pehelwan Goth. To the houses at top of Kati Pahari it was city Nazim Mustafa Kamal of MQM who supplied water to them at that top. He was the one who resolved the issue of water supply to Pehelwan Goth and built that single road that you see going through the Pehelwan Goth on the other hand ANP started firing when he wanted to build the other side of the road. This is the plus point of MQM worrying about the needs of the common man let it be for any purpose.

And another major thing that differentiates MQM from other political parties is that they care for their worker .. They will go at any level to get their men out of trouble no matter to which ethnic group their worker belong. There are Pakhtuns supporting MQM, what is the reason because they are benefiting them and MQM is caring for those who support them.

Coming to the role of media, Yes I accept that some people in the electronic media are influenced by MQM like Mubashir Luqman.. But still there are people in the media who question their role the main thing is that MQM knows how to handle the media.. They are the only well-organized political party. Their men aren't drunk when they come on media they are well prepared and they have done their homework. On the other hand other parties especially ANP isn't that much organized, like a few days ago during the Kati Pahari issue Haji Adeel stepped out of the programme and left that ****er to say what he want ..
Similarly day before yesterday there was a programme on Dunya News on which they invited Ilyas Bilour (Senator, ANP) and he was literally drunk was like unable to open his eyes. So these are the issues that need to be adressed.

At the end like I always say that all the groups mostly kill the common man for their own interest. that's it !!

MQM in fact the whole Mahajar i.e., Urdu-speaking community is an ethnofascist and cultural chauvinist people that consider themselves supreme that have got themselves the right to lead and rule others. They consider themselves to be the cream and the grand-papas of Pakistan and consider Karachi to be their turf. That is they the term Jinnahpur i.e. a separate province if not a separate country for Urdu speaker Mahajars.

Pashtuns have organized themselves around ANP lately (during Musharaf era who backed Muhajars ) because they didn't have any other option but to unite to defend themselves against MQM bandatory. Just as MQM is a reality so much is also its animosity towards Pashtuns. Even if ANP had not been there, the condition of Pashtuns would not be better. It would be rather worse.

And this Khaliswal Shabaz Khan is uttering non-sense. His problem is, being from Khalisa, he cannot identify himself with any one group and has one foot in one group and the other in the other. ANP is not collecting Bhutta. Bhutta collection is not in the tradition of ANP.

As Pashtuns are demanding their rights through increased political and ecnomic mobalization comminsorate with their expanded demography so are Urduwan and MQM wallas smelling snake and making noise. Obviously Pashtuns are no longer just labourerors and daily wagers in Karachi to be treated non-entities but rather have gained some influence in politics and media. And that is giving a heart-burn to Urdkukan-Indicans.


MQM cannot tolerate any other party in Karachi. Also remeber Pashtuns and Sindhis have migrated in large numbers to Karachi due to floods and violence in FATA so the demographic threat to the sons of Ganga.

[Toramana]

That grand-son of Ranjit Singh i.e. Imran Khan who some years back was calling Altaf Hussain a muderor having killed 40 people and was demanding his repartriation from Britian and trial for crimes is now praising Altaf Hussain. Typical Indo-Punjabi sinister character.

[Karachi]

MQM in fact the whole Mahajar i.e., Urdu-speaking community is an ethnofascist and cultural chauvinist people that consider themselves supreme that have got themselves the right to lead and rule others. They consider themselves to be the cream and the grand-papas of Pakistan and consider Karachi to be their turf. That is they the term Jinnahpur i.e. a separate province if not a separate country for Urdu speaker Mahajars.

Pashtuns have organized themselves around ANP lately (during Musharaf era who backed Muhajars ) because they didn't have any other option but to unite to defend themselves against MQM bandatory. Just as MQM is a reality so much is also its animosity towards Pashtuns. Even if ANP had not been there, the condition of Pashtuns would not be better. It would be rather worse.

And this Khaliswal Shabaz Khan is uttering non-sense. His problem is, being from Khalisa, he cannot identify himself with any one group and has one foot in one group and the other in the other. ANP is not collecting Bhutta. Bhutta collection is not in the tradition of ANP.

As Pashtuns are demanding their rights through increased political and ecnomic mobalization comminsorate with their expanded demography so are Urduwan and MQM wallas smelling snake and making noise. Obviously Pashtuns are no longer just labourerors and daily wagers in Karachi to be treated non-entities but rather have gained some influence in politics and media. And that is giving a heart-burn to Urdkukan-Indicans.


MQM cannot tolerate any other party in Karachi. Also remeber Pashtuns and Sindhis have migrated in large numbers to Karachi due to floods and violence in FATA so the demographic threat to the sons of Ganga.

(Shebaz Khan) lives in Karachi, you on the other hand has never even stepped inside pakistan all your life, so who are you to tell us what is happening there? your opinion is worth zero value

[Karachi]

That grand-son of Ranjit Singh i.e. Imran Khan who some years back was calling Altaf Hussain a muderor having killed 40 people and was demanding his repartriation from Britian and trial for crimes is now praising Altaf Hussain. Typical Indo-Punjabi sinister character.

Imran has never praised Altaf, he has only said that some of the ideas in MQM are really good, but he has never supported Altaf or the criminal elements in MQM, so clearly this says how much you know.

[unknownprince]

How come Pashtuns in Karachi are not armed? Since MQM is killing them, and getting away with it, should they defend themselves?

The police in Karachi are all MQM. Right?

Pashtuns are in numbers, but where is the power?