Muttahida Qaumi Movement – London: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 06:20, 26 March 2007
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Urdu: متحدہ قومی موومنٹ) generally known as MQM, is a political party in Pakistan founded and currently led by Altaf Hussain. It originated as an ethnic student organization in 1978 from University of Karachi [1]. The students movement later turned into an influential political party of Sindh. Later on July 26 1997, MQM officially changed its name from Muhajir Qaumi Movement to Muttahida Quami Movement. [2]
MQM is infamous for its alleged involvement in "terrorist activities" although its leaders routinely deny such accusations. International organizations such as the UNHCR and the United States Department of State have cited examples of MQM's perceived involvement in terrorism, especially within Karachi, Pakistan's commercial center.[1][2][3][4]
International organizations such as the UNHCR and the United States Department of State have also cited examples of MQM's great humanitarian actions.[5]
Political history
Synopsis
Since Partition the movement has traditionally campaigned for an Islamic republic while representing Muhajirs and other Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent such as Punjabis, Pakhtuns who have allegedly faced open discrimination in public and government services from Muhajirs and Sindhis since migration to Pakistan. Under Altaf Hussain the issue of Muhajir discrimination became a major political issue.
The open discrimination against Muhajirs was considerably reduced as current Military Ruler of Pakistan and de facto ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, and the Governor of Sindh are both Muhajirs.
Background
Muhajir are ethnic Urdu speaking Muslim linguistic group that migrated to Pakistan after independence in 1947. Before 1947, most of businesses were owned by Hindus, their departure to India was followed by allotments of businesses to selected group of Muhajirs (Urdu Speaking) as compensation to their businesses in India. After the death of Liaquat Ali Khan, the rise of military intervention in governmental affairs annulled many of the changes made.
General Muhammad Ayub Khan seized the presidency of Pakistan in a military coup amid political chaos. General Ayub Khan allegedly was against the proper treatment for Muhajirs on important positions in civil service, bureaucracy and local government. The subsequent administration of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto went on to nationalizing businesses which effected businesses owned by Muhajirs.
Formation of APMSO
In the context of aforesaid scenario, group of Urdu speaking students of University of Karachi established a student wing in June 11, 1978, named, All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) led by Altaf Hussain. On 11 June 2006 Founder of APMSO & MQM Mr. Altaf Hussain announced to change the name of All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation to All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation, in a effort to appeal to or embrace students' all Pakistanis.
Making of MQM
In order to fill the political vacuum and bridge the gap between Urdu speaking faction and concerned authorities of government, APMSO restructured as Muhajir Qaumi Movement on March 18, 1984 [3]. NOW, the name is of APMSO (All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization).
1992 military operation
In order to crush this revolutionary group in Urban areas of Sindh, an operation was launched by Pakistan Army in June 19, 1992. Altaf Hussain, the founder of MQM, was urged by followers to leave the country and relocate in London 6 months prior to the operation. Chaos, mugging, murder, rape and terror reigned on the streets of karachi after the military operation. Muhajirs were victimised by the government. Letters were carved on the backs of MQM members.
On November 1994, army was withdrawn from law enforcement duties in Sindh, to be replaced with paramilitary Rangers and specially trained police. To remove any revolutionary elements from the party, Government of Pakistan adopted a policy of extra-judicial killing, instead of prosecution. Between 1995 and 1996, hundreds of proclaimed offenders with active association with MQM were extra-judicially killed by Rangers and police, sometimes in cold blood. (Pakistan Chronology 1947-1997, published by Ministry of Information and Media, ISBN 969-507-000-0)
The government's wrongdoings were unsuccessful because today MQM is not only the third largest political party in Pakistan, but also the only one with units working all over the world on humanitarian activities.
Changing name
years of military operation, MQM moved away from armed activity, and at the same time emerged as a party representing poor Urdu speaking people of Karachi and Hyderabad. On July 26, 1997, MQM leadership in a hope to enlarge its base, and also to differentiate themselves from the other faction of MQM, changed the party name to Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Later in the next national elections in 2002, MQM emerged as the single most popular representation of Urdu Speaking community, demonstrating total rejection of the breakaway faction of MQM by the masses.
Recent trend
 | This section's factual accuracy is disputed. |
 | The neutrality of this section is disputed. |
MQM initially targeted just the Urdu speaking people, who migrated to Pakistan after the independence in 1947. Since 1997, it has started to aim downtrodden masses at the national level, with a manefesto to improve low social and economic status of the Sindh. Although it has turned into a national political party, working in all major cities of Pakistan, its representation in non-Urdu speaking areas remains negligible.
MQM boycotted 2001 municipal elections but participated in 2002 national election and secured most of the urban areas seats in Sindh province. Altaf Hussain supported, General Pervez Musharraf's U-turn on Afghan-policy after 9-11 attacks.
In August 2005, Haq Parast candidates, supported by MQM, won the municipal elections in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas and many other cities of Sindh. The daily Dawn editorial
At present, MQM is an ally of President Musharraf in federal government but still has its own viewpoint on various issues including LFO, Kalabagh Dam and NFC Award. [4]
MQM tried to change it's policy which restrained it to Urdu speaking people recently, opening offices in other provinces including Punjab (formerly MQM was famous for anti-Punjab attitude) with no success. This policy according to various circles is an attempt by President Musharraf to strengthen his rule and has badly backfired. MQM was successful in winning two seats in Azad Kashmir national assembly, although most of pro-mqm votes were casted in the camps established for earthquake survivors in karachi and there was allegations of rigging but results were not challenged in courts
Opposing views
It is generally believed in Pakistan that MQM was created by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), main military intelligence agency in Pakistan. Many people from Karachi and other parts of Pakistan have very strong views about MQM, due to their role in Karachi's law and order situation. It was created to break the stronghold of Benazir Bhutto in her home province, Sindh. ISI believed that the ethnic tension between Sindhis and Muhajirs will distract Benazir Bhutto and her political party, Pakistan Peoples Party, from launching campaign against the military government of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Altaf Hussain was living as a taxi driver in Chicago at that time and he was called to form a Muhajir ethnic political party with funds supplied by ISI.
The success of MQM in attracting support of Muhjairs both surprised and scared the ISI. This unexpected popularity helped MQM to chart its own independent political course rather than follow the ISI agenda. MQM went out of control of ISI and began a violent struggle for Muhajirs that turned Karachi into a virtual war-zone. In 1992, after months of extreme violence by the MQM, Pakistan Army launched a military operation to restore law and order in Karachi. The MQM gunmen were killed or arrested, armories and torture rooms were destroyed. The Army involvement is an indication of the seriousness of the crisis that MQM perpetrated in Karachi. Since the army operation and subsequent heavy activities of Pakistani police and paramilitary, the MQM has given up it's extreme violent past although it is wide knowledge that it is still involved in 'jagga tax' extortion in areas of its influence in Karachi and other urban parts of the province of Sindh
References
- ^ UNHCR: Information on Mohajir/Muttahida Qaumi Movement
- ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
- ^ [Milnet http://www.milnet.com/Pakistan-Mil-Jihad.html]
- ^ [Terrorism Knowledge Database Mohajir Qami Movement http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=4507]
- ^ <http://mqmusa.com/Units/Central/PWC_awarded.htm>
Key leaders
- '''Altaf Hussain'''
- Farooq Sattar
- Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan (Governor of the of Sindh)
- Dr Imran Farooq
- Mustafa Kamal (City Nazim (Mayor) of Karachi)
- Aamir Liaquat Hussain (Minister of state for religious affairs)
- Azeem Ahmed Tariq (Assassinated)
See also
External links
- South Asia Terror charge leader can stay in UK
- MQM members sentenced to death
- Why Karachi is so violent
- Arrest & Arms recovery from MQM workers during December 1998 to February 1999
- Yearwise detail of MQM's atrocities
- Factsheet on MQM
- US CIS Resource Information Center: Info on MQM
- South Asia Terrorism Portal: MQM, Terrorist Group of Pakistan