Why Dr Ishratul Ibad thinks MQM reunion caused people-leaders disconnect?

Breaking seven years of silence, former governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, who is gearing up to relaunch his political career, minced no words when he said that the reunification of the splinter groups of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) gave rise to a disconnect between leaders and voters.

Talking to senior journalists in Karachi via video link from Dubai, the former governor said the merger of MQM Pakistan, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and Tanzeem Bahali Committee of Farooq Sattar didn’t appear organic and people got a perception that the step was taken under duress.

“When they were joining hands, then all the leaders of the MQM should have been given a chance to serve the people. The pick-and-choose policy became divisive and many of those who do not carry any baggage became non-active. It disconnected MQM from its vote bank,” he said while expressing his intention to return home.

It’s a surprising announcement to many as Dr Ibad has been staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since relinquishing his post as governor of Sindh in 2016.

Dr Ibad may have remained in touch with many of the journalists in the city but it was the first time he interacted with so many of them.

Earlier, on 19th May, this scribe had exclusively reported for GEO News Urdu that Dr Ibad had decided to reenter politics in Pakistan. It was also mentioned that the former governor was no longer associated with the MQM.

As a matter of fact, in 2015, Dr Ibad became one of the top stalwarts disowned by party founder Altaf Hussain. The fissures in the MQM were caused by the Karachi operation, which unexpectedly started targeting the militant wing of the then-united MQM.

“When the MQM disowned me, so did I,” Dr Ibad said.

During the Zoom meeting arranged in a local hotel, Dr Ibad avoided answering probing questions about the possible dates of his homecoming but talked in length about why he was reentering local politics.

“I had two options: either to remain a bystander in Dubai and watch political instability eroding my motherland or become politically active and return home to utilise my potential,” Dr Ibad said.

“In order to keep a country united and on the path to progress, the government, the opposition, the judiciary, the establishment, and the people play their role; however, current political instability, divisions and hatred has crossed every limit. Its time every sincere and able person must join hand to end this mess.”

The former governor said that the army could only protect and the establishment oversee but “if they lack the support of the people then any anti-state element can take advantage of the volatile situation”. “Unfortunately, this is what we are witnessing right now in Pakistan.”

Reflecting on the economic meltdown, Dr Ibad said that every person was looking for ways to flee the country. He was of the view that this situation could only be addressed by giving people hope and bringing in massive foreign investment.

Here, the former governor mentioned the $250 million green investment he had finalised for Sindh and how it was expandable to $1 billion. “Many such projects can be brought by ensuring transparency,” Dr Ibad said.

So now the question is when will he return home? Is he joining any political party or will launch his own?

Ibad said that he had a complete action plan in mind and his steps would be synchronised with the overall political situation of the country.

Without spilling more beans on his plans he said revealing everything now may jeopardise the objectives he had set for himself.

Nevertheless, he claimed that those who claimed to represent Karachi have failed miserably and it has caused a political vacuum that must be filled sooner than later.

Without naming leaders of the political party, Dr Ibad said his homecoming news had perplexed some. “They are envying their fears to different quarters that the MQM project will fail if I become active again”.

He reminded journalists of his role in the development sector.

“Once the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif visited the governor's house. He was taking pride in mentioning the Lahore Metrobus System and the Lahore Orange Line Project. I politely reminded him that since he was the prime minister of the whole country, it would be much appreciated if he launched similar projects in Karachi,” Dr Ibad said.

Lauding the PML-N leader’s vision, the former governor said: “Not only did Mian Sahab approve Karachi Green Line Project but also made sure that work starts in 10 days.”

However, Dr Ibad lamented that successive governments failed to follow the project. “Their inaction not only delayed the process but massively increased the cost. At the end of the day, Karachi suffered.”

On a lighter note, he shared that on an occasion when former president Pervez Musharraf was on a visit to Karachi, it was ensured that the presidential convoy took the major bumpy arteries.

“Sir, hope you had a pleasant ride? I asked Musharraf Sahab’s as he settled down after that tiring journey. His instant reaction was the city is in a terrible mess. That very day, he approved massive development projects,” Dr Ibad explained his ways of getting things done.

Reflecting on the current state of affairs, Dr Ibad said: “Had those who claim to be the true representatives of Karachi had been active for its development, I’d not have planned this homecoming.”

“MQM has lost moral ground and political standing, and their elected dispensation has been challenged in the courts. By foreseeing the possible fallout of this political vacuum, I have decided to do something for the good of the people,” he claimed.

Despite criticising MQM, Dr Ibad talked highly of Sindh Governor Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori, who, he said was better known as the ‘People’s Governor’.

“I am in touch with the Governor Tessori. He is doing a lot for the people and the province by best utilising the currently available resources.”

It may be wrong to form an opinion that the former governor is highly likely to launch his political party. "Yet, towards the end, I probed who would join him in this endeavour."

After all, MQM Pakistan has recently dissolved the nascent ad hoc Central Committee to form a Central Committee and Central Council. These steps have been taken after disbanding the almost 85-member Coordination Committee had taken charge of the party after disowning its founder MQM.

However, these ‘unilateral actions’ are being criticised by MQM’s active, partially active, and non-active leaders alike. They call these moves “sheer violation of the party constitution”. They say: “The damage to the party is done at the expense of pleasing a few.”

It seems natural that most of the disgruntled MQM leaders will surely join ranks with former Sindh governor.

It is learnt that some of the very active MQM leaders, both men and women, have also contacted Dr Ibad to declare their allegiance.

On the other hand, some lawyers, top businessmen, and leaders of various communities have also welcomed the former governor’s intentions.

Like many elected members of other parties, incumbent MQM lawmakers from both national and provincial assemblies are being said to be a “miracle” of Farm 47.

“Number 47 always comes to mind, when MQM is discussed. Be it 1947, when Mohajirs migrated to Pakistan or in the early 1990s when youth of the city took up AK-47 in their arms. More recently, Farm 47 has become the talk of the town...,” the former governor quipped.

“I don’t have any intention to bulldoze any political party.”

Dr Ibad concluded that his intention was only to make sure there was political stability and economic development in the metropolis and the province that gave him the honour of serving its people for 14 long years.