On 22^nd August Altaf Husain, the leader of MQM (Mutahida Qaumi Movement) in his telephonic address from London to the MQM's General Workers' Convention in Karachi announced a policy statement which startled the whole political medium of Pakistan including the government of which MQM is a collation partner.  He said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will support any act against ‘corrupt politicians' and former generals by ‘patriotic Pakistani army generals', including martial law.  He said that the country was in desperate need of a change much like the French Revolution, and by stirring such a revolution, the MQM would cause consternation for the influentials, landlords and capitalists. 

It is worth mentioning that just a day before Altaf Hussain's above statement, America's Karachi Consul for Political Affairs, Bryan D. Hunt met Altaf Hussain in London.  But irrespective of what objective Altaf Hussain wanted to achieve from his statement, definitely it struck a chord with impoverished and frustrated masses of Pakistan who were already fed up with the deteriorating security, economic and political situation of Pakistan. They have experienced firsthand what Hizb has been advocating for the last few decades i.e.  "Democracy and dictatorship are two sides of the same coin".   

The debate on ‘change' has become so vociferous that Prime Minster was forced to speak on this subject to dispel this feeling of imminent political change.  He said that the "Army neither intends to come to power nor will it come to power. The judiciary is independent and pro-democracy" adding that there is no "threat to democracy as the civilian government came to power after making numerous sacrifices and winning the 2008 elections."

However, the Ummah and the media in particular has come to realise that no matter how many elections take place the same corrupt elite will continue to control the parliament.  These powerful and rich elite are so strong that an average man cannot even think of running for elections against them.  Pakistan's electioneering politics is heavily dominated by the Sardars (Tribal chiefs) of Baluchistan, Waderas (landlords) of Sindh and Jageerdars (landlords) and powerful Biradries (tribes) of Punjab.  Whilst in the cities the industrialists or rich traders rule the political jungle. Hence repeated elections are not going to break this elite cycle of oppression; not even for the next 100 years.  On the other hand people have also experienced three dictators in the last 60 years and they know that the solution is not dictatorship either.  Hence both military and elections are not an option.

The option which is echoing in the media these days is the "Bangladesh model".  In this option Army is supposed to support technocrats and clean politicians to "clean the mess" created by the corrupt rulers.  The government and other beneficiaries of the system have termed it "unconstitutional" method of change and have called for constitutional or "in-house" change.  On 16^th Sep the Prime Minster tried to shoot down this option by stating: "We have come through elections. We have the mandate. There is a coalition government and whatever is to happen, it could be through the parliament.  Technocracy [is] not acceptable".  Similar views were expressed by the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif who is waiting for his turn and hopes that through the vote of no-confidence he may steal the throne of Pakistan.

The people of Pakistan have already reached the correct method of change by hit ‘n' trial.  Which is that army has to give support (Nusrah) to clean people who would rid this society from the corrupt politicians and retired generals.  They are clear that change can neither be brought by brining army to rule nor by bringing corrupt politicians through the electioneering process.  The change has to come from out-of-the-box approach similar to the "Bangladesh model".  The Ummah should realise that the Army must support not just the "clean people" rather they should support those "clean people" who have a "clean system" to rule as well.  If the "clean technocrats" and "clean politicians" will continue to rule with the same ‘corrupt political system', which was created to suite the capitalists, then no positive change can be expected in the plight of the masses.  This is exactly what we witnessed in Bangladesh where the so-called "clean people" ruled with the old corrupt Capitalist system as a result no change occurred and now Haseena Wajid is back to subjugate our Bangali brothers.  Hence the army should provide nusrah (material support) to Hizb ut-Tahrir who has proven its sincerity and capability for more than 50 years and she has a clear blue print of a ‘clean system' which is the system of Islam formally known as the Khilafah "Caliphate".

 This method of change through the support (Nsurah) of the people of power is proven from Seerah of the Messenger (saw) and hence is obligatory to follow. Alhamdulillah the Ummah has finally reached this method after years of hit ‘n' trial.  Khilafah "Caliphate" will provide the real change which would not only feed the hungry and teach the illiterate but it would also unify the Muslim Ummah and its resources under a single banner to make Muslims the strongest nation in the world.

Naveed Butt

The Official Spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir  in Pakistan