By Asif Mahmood
With the diatribe of Altaf Hussain, followed by a well expected apology, there comes a crunch question to fore: Whether the gentleman is really so naive that in the spontaneous overflow of powerful passions he spits out some words and after a while when sanity prevails and he realizes he has erred, he wastes no time in tendering an apology?
Well, I am afraid even an Ostrich, otherwise habitual in burying head in the sand, would not by this concept of naivety. The gentleman is neither innocent nor naive. He is not suffering from any mental pressure leading to such a diatribe. This all is but for a cause. This all is but for a purpose. We are not that gone that a gentleman can make us a fool time and again. Enough is enough Sir!
Altaf is well aware of the meanings and effects of the words he uses. He used his vocabulary with a purpose. So while responding to is diatribe one must keep in view the actual purpose that lies behind all this ugly rhetoric.
It is hard to believe that it was merely a clerical mistake that conferred UK nationality on Altaf. It was more a design than a mistake and the way UK is treating Altaf, despite all furore, speaks volumes of the fact that Altaf is blue eyed boy of UK administration and in a society where no one offers a free lunch; all this appeasement of an accused can not be termed merely a coincidence. It is more than that for sure.
The fact is not denying that Pakistan through CPEC is forwarding towards strategic and economic independence and that can neither be easily swallowed nor can be digested by the global power corridors. The UK is using Altaf as a tool in its proxy against Pakistan and when we say UK it is not only UK. Its strategic partners US and India are also having their axe to grind.
Modi is under tremendous pressure and is feeling unprecedented heat from Kashmir. It would be an ideal situation for Modi if Pakistani authorities opt for an operation against MQM. Altaf Hussain might also be dreaming for the same. His abusive language was actually an attempt to instigate the authorities to opt an operation so that Modi can make it an issue of Human Rights and can do something to side step the Kashmir issue.
Keeping in view the objectives of this dirty game, the authorities should respond with some calculated measures. Cool headed and calculated measures!
