30 Mins: Pak leaders rule from UK

LONDON DIARIES: Karachi became a battleground between Musharraf's supporters and opponents.

      

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The streets of Karachi became a battleground between supporters and opponents of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, a battle between supporters of the PML led by Nawaz Sharif, now in London, and the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM). But were the people fighting in Karachi puppets, with strings in the hands of a leadership in London, particularly the MQM?

There were rallies in Pakistan of the MQM, addressed by its leader Altaf Hussain, via phone, all the way from London. The MQM represents Indian Muslims who moved to Pakistan after Partition, and has been led by Hussain from London since he arrived here in self-exile in 1992.

“I have been here since 1992 and kept contact with every unit and zone. I have not only kept the movement alive but also taken it forward,” he said.

On May 12, 2007, violence erupted in Karachi. Supporters of Musharraf were pitched against groups supporting sacked Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhary.

It is now alleged that the violence, which started during an MQM rally in support of Musharraf, was engineered from the MQM's London office. On May 11, MQM leaders listened as Hussain spoke on speaker phone and spelt out the following days plans.

"There are forces that are conspiring to disrupt the MQM rally on May 12,” he said.

Hussain knew trouble was imminent in Karachi, he prepared his party for it. He knows he wields influence on the streets of Pakistan, but denies inciting violence.

“If there's rain in Hyderabad, Altaf Hussain in London is held responsible. If a bus burns somewhere, a case should be made against Altaf Hussain in London,” he said at the rally.

Hussain came to London to lead the MQM in opposition. For the past three years he has been in alliance with the military government of General Musharraf. But even as government ally, he has not returned to Pakistan.

"Altaf Hussain, his party is in the government, but I'm sure that as soon as he will go there, he is in danger, his life is in danger,” said member Kashmir International Front, Afzal Tahir.

"Where the life of the President of Pakistan is not safe, how on earth could Central Committee of MQM or the workers or supporters permit Hussain to return?” added MQM member, Mohammed Anwar.

Accused for years of politicking in exile, Hussain now asks Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the leaders who made the accusations, why they followed him to London.

“Nawaz Sharif says ‘Come back to Islamabad, I will arrange for security.’ I said, ‘What is your own security?" said Hussain.

And for Benazir, too, he has a barrage of questions. “Why have you come here? Who sent you here? What is the purpose? You have to tell the people,” Hussain asked her.

The qaum (homeland) in Pakistan has its eyes on London, on Hussain himself and what he could continue to do long distance, particularly now that he's backed Musharraf against the Chief Justice which was a hazardous move.

The qaum has its eyes on what Benazir might do from London, or Nawaz Sharif here.

Homeland Pakistan, home England

The quam (homeland) is Pakistan but the leaders - former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz sharif - are in England.

The quam (homeland) is Pakistan but the leaders are in England. Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has been speaking - in her own fashion - to the qaum, to the world and perhaps even to Pakistan President General Musharraf.

She's looking for assurances, but it's never going to be easy for an exiled Pakistani leader to buy that one-way ticket from London to Islamabad.

This what Benazir had written in her autobiography, which was updated last month: "As I write this in London, I confess my life is as difficult as it's is interesting. I live from suitcase to suitcase, pounding the halls of the House of Commons and Congress. That is the nature of my life and I accept it".

Once the Prime Minister's daughter, Benazir was sent to Britain to study. Today she is back, the exiled daughter of an executed father, both victims of military regimes.

Pakistan often makes its leaders fugitives - or long-distance leaders as they like to believe.

This is what Benazir Bhutto had told CNN-IBN in an interview: "I am not 5,000 miles away. I am there in the assemblies, the local councils, the villages. I am there everywhere through the PPP worker."

But in Pakistan, leaderless, at a time when opposition to Musharraf is picking up as never before, and with a somewhat democratic of election due, this could be a make or break issue for Benazir, her party and for Pakistan.

The crisis over Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, is not just about the chief justice, or even justice itself.

"The issue of whether former prime ministers can return to contest will be adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Given these important Constitutional issues, many people believe the chief justice of Pakistan was forcibly removed because he could not be relied upon to rubber-stamp the wishes and desires of the present regime," she had said.

The Pakistani judiciary and the pressure of street protest, could be doing what the Opposition cannot, simply because the Opposition is sitting in another country.

Says PPP General Secretary UK, Riaz Khan, "Benazir Bhutto cannot address a public meeting in Pakistan, which is direct contact to the people of Pakistan. Secondly, she is away from home, which obviously makes a lot of difference, but she is trying her best. She is in touch with all those people, those office-bearers of the party who matter."

5,000 miles away, London is still as close to Islamabad as you could get politically.

Exiled leaders have found a home away from home within its half-a-million strong Pakistani community. Leader, PML(N), Nawaz Sharif's arrival in London last year, after years of exile in Jeddah, was almost a homecoming.

He had been missing an audience, and now he played up to it. Given the large Pakistani media presence in London, he was suddenly speaking again to Pakistan itself.

"Main aap se sawalon ka jawab chahta hoon. Kis se, aap se, Pakistan ke 15 crore awam se, main poochna chahta hoon ki mujhe bataya jaye, mujhe bataya jaye aaj hamari hakumat ko khatam kyoon kiya gaya. (I want answers from the people of Pakistan. I want you to tell me why did you not want my party in power)," he was heard saying at a speech he made.

Sharif's London arrival was meant to be a brief halt, not a homecoming.

"It's not a question of staying here or there. It's a question of returning back to the country, sooner rather than later," said his brother Shabaz Sharif.

Nawaz Sharif now lives just walking distance from Benazir Bhutto's house near Marble Arch - among some of the most expensive addresses in London. It was not long before the former prime ministers found common cause against Musharraf.

On July 2, 2006, Nawaz Sharif came to Benazir's house to sign their two parties' charter of democracy.

Not all were convinced, and the event was a blow more to a demonstrator - who was beaten up by party workers - than to Musharraf.

This is what the man-handled demonstrator had to say: "Till yesterday Mr Nawaz Sharif was saying, that his policies are totally different from Benazir. And Benazir was saying that he is a totally corrupt man. And now they are getting together. It is just surprising me."

Already, the new-found togetherness is looking doubtful. There are reports that Benazir is looking for a deal with Musharraf that cuts Nawaz Sharif out.

"Unki baat sun-na ya apni baat unse kiarna, ya saudebaazi karna, ye jamhooriyat ki naïf hai, uski rooh ke munafi hai. (Talking to them or making a deal is against democracy)," Nawaz Sharif was heard saying some time after the deal was signed.

But everyone knows that its Pervez Musharraf who calls the shots back in Pakistan, and welcoming words from some Islamabad ministers have convinced nobody.

"We don't want to constrain anyone, we don't want to create hurdles for anyone, any political party. It is for the party to decide how they go about it, and whether their leaders want to come back to Pakistan or not, that is a different question, but we would want all the political parties to take part in the elections," Pakistan's Interior Minister, Aftab Khan Sherpao, was quoted as saying soon after.

And this is what Nawaz Sharif had to say in response: "I don't know on whose behalf he has said that because Mr Musharraf is saying the opposite. He says I will not allow Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to come back to Pakistan and contest the elections or participate in the elections. So I think both of them need to sit down together first and sort this out between themselves."

Benazir and Sharif blame the West, particularly the US and Britain, for supporting Musharraf, and as a result, for their exile in London.

"Promotion of democracy should not be selective. And if democracy must be defended in Pakistan, then democracy must be defended in Pakistan too," Benazir Bhutto said, squarely putting the blame on Western countries.

And Nawaz Sharif said, "Well, the double standards are there. I don't blame any country. Maybe certain governments and certain people in those governments are responsible."

The flip side of keeping Musharraf in charge in Islamabad, is offering his rivals refuge in London. Benazir's party colleagues are not yet ready to let her return.

"We have fear that if she will go right away, she will be killed, because there will be an attempt on her life positively," says PPP General Secretary, Riaz Khan.

And this could mean London is home for some time to come - though comfortable, but not honourable.

"Duniya hasti hai, hamara sar sharam se jhukta hai, ki hamare saath ye kya zulm ho raha hai (The world laughs at us and we are ashamed. What is this that is happening to us)," says Nawaz Sharif.

For now, the two former prime ministers are sitting it out in London. And it's not just them. There are others who have had to make London their home for a struggle against one Pakistani regime after another.

Opposition leaders don't stand a chance!

Pakistan Police cracks down on protests against Musharraf in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), against his plans to extend the Mangla Dam. The Mangla Dam In PoK benefits only Pakistan, and not Kashmiris say protestors.

If former prime ministers speak of zulm (torture), if the biggest government ally cannot return to Pakistan, what chance then is there for Opposition leaders from Sindh, Balochistan and Pakistani Kashmir.

There is also an anti-state Opposition to the government on the other side of the Line of Control, even if we don't hear about it a lot. For these leaders, London is less a place and more a platform for a voice.

Says Anti-Mangla Dam Extension Committee Spokesman, Najib Afsar, "The problem they are facing over Mangla Dam is due to people like us being based in UK and America's expressions. In Mirpur itself, the protest is is non-existent."

Most Kashmiris In England are from Mirpur where the dam Is located, so the issue finds huge support in the country. What Mirpuri Kashmiris are not allowed to do in PoK, they do in London and Birmingham, and are effective as well.

"International institutions like World Bank have confirmed that they will not fund the extension. We have got a written confirmation and we have also got a written confirmation from Asian Development Bank," says Najib Afsar.

Protests are still on in Britain and one Mirpuri - Abid Zaman - has even gone on a six-day hunger fast.

"I went on hunger strike for those poor people who couldn't have done a thing from there. Because if you do, God knows who is watching you, and what will happen round the corner. Here you can say whatever you want to say," says Zaman.

Adds a member of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Europe), Shabir Choudhry, "Politics in London is getting important. This is why you see every Azad Kashmiri and Pakistani leader coming to London, and people not only meet the Pakistani community but meet others as well.

The fact that political voices can be raised in the Kashmir Valley, along with media ready to report on them bothers dissidents from PoK, who say they can only act out of London.

Says a member of the United Kashmir People's National Party, Mumtaz Khan, "If you are hearing about Indian controlled Kashmir, that indicates presence of the media, presence of democratic institutions there - the presence of other institutions that allows the people to raise their voice. Whereas on the other side there are no such institutions that exist."

Adds a Kashmiri Leader who managed to escape from PoK, Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, "Pakistan ke Kashmir logon ki worse situation hai. Kyonki vahaan Constitutional power hai, ki koi aisi party, koi aisa shaks jo hai, vo election tak mein hissa nahin le sakta jo hailak-e-Pakistan mein yakeen nahin rakhta (The situation of the people in PoK is worse as there is Constitutional power there that no person, who does not believe in the rule of Pakistan can take part in any elections there)."

Men like Mehram Baloch, persecuted politically in Pakistan, have traditionally found space in Britain. But times may be changing. A report in The Guardian has Mehram Baloch worried.

"The Pakistani government has urged the British government to do a swap deal whereby they want me in a swap deal for what they are trying to give to the British, the transatlantic, airline bomber," says he.

Most people have forgotten World Sindhi Congress leader G M Syed and Pashtun leader, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who spent most of their lives in prison for demanding rights for their people.

Though the Pakistan Human Rights Commission and other groups still report human rights violations in Pakistan against ethnic minorities, London remains the sole outpost for these minorities to say what their people in Pakistan cannot.

Says member, World Sindhi Congress, Lakhu Lohana, "We are providing them the voice for the international community, to make the international community aware of the situation, of the suffering, of the sorrows, of the plight, of the indigenous Sindhi people."

From the large demonstrations in Pakistan remote-controlled from London, to the smaller ones that happen in London itself, a whole range of dissident political voices now speak louder in London than in Pakistan.

"My main aim is to present the case of Balochistan to the international community, which has had no voice in the past. I am not a pioneer in this. Many other political leaders, political organisations, ex-prime ministers, they are all sitting over here and fighting their case for their democratic rights in Pakistan, in the United Kingdom," says Mehram Baloch.

Differing views, and conflicting policies - well why not? But all Pakistani politicians acting out of London, share another dreaded factor - if they were to say in Islamabad what they are saying in London, their lives would be in danger.

(With inputs from Sanjay Suri in London)