The Jamaat-e-Islami has ridiculed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement charge that it was behind the killing of five policemen in a terrorist attack on the Gulistan-e-Jauhar police station early on Sunday.
| "Yeah! Dat's ridiculous! We're laughin', see?" |
The accusation is contained in the MQMâs first official reaction to the âopen act of terrorism,â a statement by Imran Farooq, although the London-based party convenor refrained from naming the Jamaat. However, another MQM statement quoting the partyâs âintelligence wingâ, which gave supposed details of the operation, named the Jamaat and charged one of its local leaders with supervising the crime. Mr Farooq, whose statement also has purported details, implicated âa so-called religious party,â the MQMâs familiar shorthand for the Jamaat, jihadi outfits affiliated with it and Haqiqi âterroristsâ. According to his statement, four or five vehicles arrived around 1am Sunday at the home of a member of the âso-called religious partyâ in Zohra Nagar for a meeting. âOnly a few hours later, armed terrorists attacked the police station,â Dr Farooq says.
| Quite a coincidence, huh? |
âVery recently, the terrorists of this so-called religious party attacked this police station to free a few of their arrested accomplices. This incident was reported in all newspapers. It may be recalled that an important member of Al Qaeda was arrested from the house of a Jamaat-e-Islami office-bearer,â it said, referring to the arrest last year of an Arab at the house of a Jamaat woman leader in Karachi. The Jamaat has tried to turn the tables on the MQM through the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. An MMA spokesman dismissed the charge and alleged that the MQMâs intelligence wing spied for London and Washington.
| "So y'can't believe nuttin' dey say, even if it's right, see?" |
He asked which clause of the Political Parties Act allowed the MQM to form an intelligence wing in the first place and demanded that investigations into the policemenâs killing be supervised by a Sindh High Court judge and that the governor not interfere in the probe. The police say that since they are still investigating the crime, it would be premature to hold any group or individual responsible.
| "So it's not necessary to bump off any more cops, okay?" |
The MQM virtually rules the province with the Home Department under its thumb, but is again acting like an exasperated opposition. It can initiate action in the light of its findings, if they indeed are findings, but is confining itself to supplying unsupported details about the attack on the police station, as if it were merely an informed but helpless spectator. The MQM is the leading coalition partner in Sindh. Governor Ishratul Ibad was the MQMâs convenor, second only to Altaf Hussain, when he assumed his position at the end of 2002 after returning from exile in London. His position may be administrative in constitutional terms, but he has been calling the shots from day one. Home adviser Aftab Shaikh is former deputy convenor. So it is incomprehensible why the party has to rely on the publication of âintelligenceâ reports to support its charges, rather than simply move against the accused - provided it can furnish evidence. It could begin by apprehending the Jamaat official who hosted the conspiratorial meeting.
| Assuming it wants to engage in open warfare with the thugs, gunnies, and beturbanned snuffies guarding him... |
There is no denying that the Jamaat-e-Islami is just as armed as the MQM, that it has a history of violence (its student wing in particular) and that it is capable of political crimes the same as the MQM and Haqiqi. But the MQMâs position is so patently silly that few people should sympathise. |