The US chapter of MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement), a party primarily of the Mohajir ethnicity in Pakistan, called for the right of self — determination in a protest in Washington DC. Part of the protest were also Baloch, Pashtun and a representative from Pakistan occupied Gilgit — Baltistan, part of Pakistan occupied J&K.

The Baloch were represented by Nabi Bakhsh Baloch of the BNM and Gilgit — Baltistan by unaffiliated activist Senge Hasnan Sering. Mohajir is a  term used to represent those who migrated to Pakistan from India during the partition. Rehan Ibadat, Central Organizer (MQM USA), said that exercising the right of self determination can result however in a variety of different outcomes ranging from political independence to full disintegration of the state.

However, the MQM headed by London — based Altaf Hussain is known to often switch sides. Is it just a demand to pressurise the military establishment in Pakistan to allow his party to function freely again or have they already been pushed so far that they are outright demanding self — determination. Rehan Ibadat added that “Pakistan has placed a constraint in Pakistani print and electronic media to ban speeches and even pictures of Altaf Hussain. We believe, this kind of act is a serious violation of Freedom of Speech, and an exercise of dictatorial power, in a “So-Called” democratic nation.”

(The writer, Aveek Sen, is an independent journalist working on cyber security and the geopolitics of India’s neighbourhood)