Muttahida Qaumi Movement

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Muttahida Qaumi Movement
متحدہ قومی موومنٹ
 
 
Leader Altaf Hussain
 
Founded 1984
Headquarters Karachi, Pakistan
 
International affiliation none
 
Website
www.mqm.org

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Urdu: متحدہ قومی موومنٹ) ( Muttahida Qaumi Movement) generally known as MQM or simply Muttahida, is a political party of Pakistan. It's leader, Altaf Hussain, has been in the United Kingdom since March 1992.

MQM is the fourth-largest political party in the newly elected National Assembly of Pakistan in February 2008 general elections [1]. It is the second largest political party of Sindh province and the third largest in Pakistan after Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League being the first and the second respectively.It is the strongest party in karachi where majority of people support it.

MQM is a political party which grew out of a student organization on purely linguistic and regional grounds very similar to IRA in Northern Ireland or SNP in Scotland. The students organization, All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization (APMSO) started on 11 June 1978 at the University of Karachi by Altaf Hussain. Hussain remains its life long leader despite having a very controversial personality.[2] APMSO gave birth to Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) on 18 March 1984, which by 1991 "established a virtual monopoly over representation of the Urdu-speaking community in urban Sindh." [3]

On July 26, 1997, MQM officially removed the term Muhajir from its name, and replaced it with Muttahida ("United").[4] to, "further enhance the programme of national development" and to allegedly carry out "a nation-wide campaign against feudal domination."[5]

MQM occasionally claims to be making speedy inroads all over Pakistan.[6] At the February 2008 general election, the party won 25 seats in the National Assembly, and 52 seats in the Sindh Provincial Assembly.[7]

Contents

Political ideology

Official Statement from MQMs Website: "Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) believes in Realism and Practicalism. Acceptance of reality with an open heart is Realism, a concept based upon the philosophy of its Founder and Leader Mr. Altaf Hussain. Based on Realism positive achievement made through ideologically supported pragmatic programs is called Practicalism."[8]

Politics for service

According to MQM's website, "Nation’s solidarity, integrity and security; progress and prosperity; improvement in common man’s quality of life; stability of democratic institutions; and the substantial reforms in the field of agriculture, trade and industry, education and health, finance and overall economy and judiciary are the cherished goals of Muttahida Qaumi Movement."[9]

MQM and minority rights

MQM Leader, Altaf Hussain has stated, "We consider all the sects, beliefs and religious minorities and groups as equal citizens. We shall stand by our belief regardless of the consequences and we are prepared to pay the price of our stand." [10] [11]

Political history

A view of MQM's rally on 15 April, 2007, "against religious extremism and baton and kalashnikov shariah"
A view of MQM's rally on 15 April, 2007, "against religious extremism and baton and kalashnikov shariah" [12]

Formation of APMSO

A group of Urdu-speaking students of University of Karachi, established a student organization in June 11, 1978, the All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organisation (APMSO) led by Altaf Hussain. The Muhajir people are a Urdu-speaking linguistic group that migrated to Pakistan after its independence in 1947 in the name of Islam. Almost two million[citation needed] Muhajir men, women and children sacrificed their lives during this migration. On 11 June 2006, Altaf Hussain announced to change the name of All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation to All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation, in an effort to appeal to and embrace all the students of Pakistan.

Making of MQM

In order to fill the political vacuum and bridge the gap between the Urdu-speaking faction and concerned authorities of government, APMSO restructured as "Muhajir Qaumi Movement" on March 18, 1984 [13]. On August 8, 1986, the very first public meeting organized by MQM at Karachi's Nishtar park was marked by a huge outcome of people from Karachi despite extreme weather conditions. Nearly three million people[citation needed] were reported to be present at the first meeting which was organized by the MQM.

Contention with the government

Since his self-exile to UK, Altaf Hussain has alleged Pakistan's government of "Isolation, Criminalization and Demoralization." Mr. Hussain says that soon after MQM liberated its original constituency, the Muhajirs, from "the clutches" of the politicized clergy, especially that of Jamaat-e-Islami, it was decided to spread the MQM’s circle of influence and ground work to the rest of Pakistan. "We organised the historical national festival in 1990 and announced that the Muhajir Quami Movement (Muhajir National Momement) will be transformed into Muttahida Quami Movement (United National Movement) on 14th August 1992," he said.

Despite all the apparently democratic activities, there were reports that MQM's political attendance is power driven and MQM is torturing opponents in Urban Sindh. Such reports commenced an army operation against the MQM. During this operation more than 15,000 MQM workers were reportedly murdered, thousands where raids and arrests made and MQM offices sealed. Hundreds torture centres were discovered. Reportedly MQMs favourite torture method was drilling the knees of opponents with drilling machine. Very soon, Altaf Hussain was seen in Sindh, Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan in such a manner as to present him as the enemy of Punjabis, Baloch, Pakhtoons, Sindhis and Saraikis. Especially in Punjab such was the extent of the poisonous propaganda that no one would be prepared even to listen to the MQM’s message." Mr. Hussain claims that the ruling elite's policy was to socially and culturally isolate the MQM and Altaf Hussain from other communities, ethnic and linguistic identities of the country.

He said, "This was part of the three pronged strategy of the Establishment that basically comprises isolation, criminalization and demoralization. Isolation means to cut-off a person, a group of people or a community from other communities; criminalization means to present a worker of an ideological movement as a criminal and terrorist; demoralization means to demoralise the community through oppression and barbarism." It is funny however, that MQM is treating its opponents in exactly similar fashion with the help of local governments, beaurocracy and state security forces.

He also said that nearly every country of the world has utilised the same strategy against the people struggling for their legitimate rights. "We were subject to oppression because we wanted to change the unjust system prevailing in the country and to free the country from the clutches of a few families. The people at the helm of affairs wish to maintain the status-quo whereas we are striving to break this status-quo. In the past, the country was disintegrated for maintaining the status-quo and today if the corrupt feudal system is continuously supported instead of worrying about the country, then the country will have to face difficult times," he said.[14]

 This article does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (August 2007)
The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page. (August 2007)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

1992 military operation

In Sindh, an operation was launched by the Pakistan Army on June 19, 1992. Altaf Hussain, the founder of MQM, was urged by his followers to leave the country and relocate in London six months prior to the operation. It is again a mystery that he could anticipate an operation and so soon that he was ready to leave the country six months before the start of operation, leaving the whole party behind. After the torture culture[citation needed] introduced by MQM, it is not surprising that Altaf Hhussain is unable to go back to Pakistan, where he has a rulling party, secondary to a suspected back-fire of his own created torture culture. It is rather unseen anywhere in the world that a party chairman of a ruling party refuses to go back to his home country and face justice system created by his own party.[citation needed]

Mr. Hussain and several other MQM leaders and workers were accused of being involved in the kidnapping and torture of a Pakistan Army, Major in 1991. Major Kaleem Case was the bedrock of many subsequent governmental and military operations against MQM [15]

On February 6, 1998 the Sindh High Court found all defendants innocent and found the case as one "of almost no legal evidence". [16] [17] Major Kaleem, however, on February 20, 1998, Major Kaleem appealed the decision in Supreme Court and contended, "the High Court erred by acquitting the accused who did not surrender themselves before the trial court. He argued that there was sufficient evidence against the respondents to prove their guilt."[18]

On Monday, August 13, 2007, Major Kaleem Case was dismissed by a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Hamid Ali Mirza and Ghulam Rabbani for non-prosecution since the Sindh Government withdrew its appeal, and Major Kaleem and his counsel failed to appear. [19]

On November 1994, the 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 workers 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).

People of Karachi suffered a lot as a result of these crises. There are allegations that many people were killed due to their support of MQM. Supporters allege that there have been widespread repression of MQM supporters between 1988 to 1998, during the governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Supporters note that when Faooq Laghari Dismissed Benazir Bhutto's second Government, he mentioned extra-judicial killing as one of the reason.

Recent trend

Altaf with Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Salim Shazad, Aftab Ahmad Shaikh and other key members
Altaf with Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Salim Shazad, Aftab Ahmad Shaikh and other key members

MQM, initially focused on only 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 manifesto to improve low social and economic status of the Sindh. Although it has claimed to a national political party, working in all major cities of Pakistan, its representation in non-Urdu-speaking areas remains negligible. Altaf Hussein has not been welcomed outside Muhajirs for many controversial statements especially the one, declared 'division of India and creation of Pakistan the biggest blunder in history', during a speech in India.

MQM boycotted 2001 municipal elections but participated in 2002 national election and secured most of the urban areas seats in Sindh province.[20] Altaf Hussain supported, General Pervez Musharraf's U-turn on Afghan-policy after 9-11 attacks.

In August 2005, Haq Parast candidates, won the municipal elections in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas and many other cities of Sindh. [21]

At present, MQM is a major supporter of President Musharraf in federal government along with very controversial PML-Q, but in the course of such support it has lost its own viewpoint on various issues including LFO, Kalabagh Dam and the NFC Award. [22]

MQM tried to change its policy which restrained it to Urdu-speaking people recently, opening offices in other provinces including the Punjab (formerly MQM was famous for anti-Punjab attitude) with no success. In an unsuccessful attempt to do so, Altaf Hussain has himself married a Baloch tribal woman which failed miserably. It is thought that few psychological conditions led to failure of this marriage.

It is said that MQM has been a [23] major help to USA in its 'War Against Terrorism'. Although there are major allegations on the party to do 'controlled state terrorism on it opponents.

On Monday April 28, 2008, the MQM announced that it reached a deal with the Pakistan Peoples Party on a power sharing deal, it is expected the eight ministers from the MQM party are expected to join the Sindh government and are expected to take oath of Friday. As expected, MQM managed to get shipping industry for some alleged hidden interest.


See also

References

  1. ^ Election Commission of Pakistan: Election 2008 Statistics
  2. ^ Mr. Altaf Hussain's Speech
  3. ^ Muhajir Qaumi Movement's Warp-Speed Takeoff
  4. ^ MQM's Journey From Muhajir to Muttahida
  5. ^ MQM's Official Website
  6. ^ MQM Supports Musharraf's Strategic Meetings with Political Parties Prior to 2007-2008 Elections
  7. ^ MQM Wins 19 in National and 39 in Provincial Assembly.
  8. ^ MQM's Political Ideology</re Muttahida Quomi Mahaz, Terrorist Group of Pakistan (Previously known as Mohajir Quomi Movement) The most potent threat to Pakistan’s internal security in the late Nineteen Eighties and early Nineties was posed by militia from the Mohajir community. Originally formed as the Mohajir Quomi Movement (MQM), it is now split into two factions. The faction led by the founder Altaf Hussain was renamed Muttahida Quomi Mahaz and is commonly referred to as MQM (A). A breakaway faction, created in 1992, retains the original name Mohajir Quomi Movement - with the suffix Haqiqi which means real - and is commonly referred to as MQM (H). The two factions have been responsible for several incidents of urban terrorism even as the MQM (A) participates in Pakistan’s electoral process. After a series of strong measures taken by the State in 1998, the MQM (A) has largely reoriented itself into an exclusively political outfit. In its latest display of clout in Mohajir dominated areas, it called for a boycott of local body elections held in July 2001 and ensured a low turnout in areas dominated by its cadre. The MQM sought to portray itself, in its initial years as an organisation of Mohajirs. This ethnic term refers to refugees from India who settled in Karachi and other urban centres of Sindh province. They now constitute the largest segment in Sindh’s urban population. Largely natives of India’s Bihar and Uttar Pradesh provinces, this community maintains a distinct identity for itself. In the immediate post-partition period, the community formed one of the most influential lobbies in Pakistan having been closely associated with the movement for the country and its founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah. With the increasing power of the military over the State apparatus, the community found its pre-eminent position being increasingly usurped by the Punjabi dominated military-bureaucratic formation that effectively ruled Pakistan since Gen. Ayub’s coup in 1958. The first assertions of a distinct ethnic identity were made by the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation" (APMSO) founded by Altaf Hussain in Karachi in 1978. Altaf Hussain went on, in 1984, to form the MQM. For two years, the outfit maintained a low profile reportedly concentrating on building its cadre base in Karachi and Hyderabad. It came on the national stage with a massive rally in Karachi on August 8. Ever since it has been a major actor in Pakistan’s politics even as it maintains an armed cadre that has repeatedly indulged in urban terrorism. In 1992, going against the civilian political executive, the army reportedly encouraged a split in the outfit helping create the MQM (H) under the leadership of Afaq Ahmed and Aamir Khan, who were earlier top members of MQM’s armed wing. To disguise itself as a broad social formation, the outfit dropped the term Mohajir from its title and renamed itself the Muttahida Quomi Mahaz (United National Front) Violence has always accompanied the outfit’s political activities. It began with the first public meeting on August 8, 1986, which was accompanied by aerial firing, street violence and damage to public property by participants. Two months later, on October 31, rioting in Karachi and Hyderabad, another MQM (A) stronghold, left 12 persons dead. Altaf Hussain and ten other leaders of the outfit were arrested on November 2 that year which only increased the street violence in Mohajir dominated cities. On December 14, the outfit’s secretary general Dr Imran Farooq claimed that the situation can come under control only if Altaf Hussain is released. Almost on cue, violence flared up that night and the next day leaving 120 persons dead in Karachi. Violence continued, allegedly perpetrated by MQM, despite the outfit entering into an alliance with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in 1988 and participating in a coalition government at the Federal level. The two parties had signed a 54 point agreement commonly known as the Karachi Accord just before the elections held in December that year. News reports suggested that most violence was between supporters of the MQM and the Jiye Sindh Movement, an organisation purpotedly fighting the cause of native Sindhis. Another rival with which the MQM frequently indulged in violent clashes was the Punjabi-Pukhtoon Ittehad (PPI), an outfit comprising of armed extremists from the Pukhtoon and Punjabi communities. Random attacks by armed activists of the warring groups on unarmed civilians were the major cause for casualties. In May 1989, the MQM walked out of the PPP led coalition in Sindh and five months later, from the federal government, accusing the PPP of failing to honour its promises outlined in the Karachi Accord. The press to was a victim of the MQM’s terror strategies. Several newspapers, including the Dawn, Jang, identified by the outfit as non-symphathetic to the ‘movement’ were targeted for enforced boycotts. Following reports of an imminent army crackdown on the outfit, Altaf Hussain left for UK on January 1, 1992 and has been in exile since. Despite the flight of its leader, the outfit’s terrorist arm continued to operate until 1998. Its political arm too faded into insignificance after the October 1999 coup in Pakistan. The mid nineties in urban Sindh was marked by consistent strike calls from the MQM which included an announcement in July 1995 that weekly strikes on Fridays and Saturdays would be observed. Most MQM strikes were accompanied by violence leaving scores dead in their wake. The outfit’s leadership, particularly Altaf Hussain, has been described by most analysts, as opportunists. The political platforms adopted by the outfit have been forwarded as evidence. After striking a deal, termed as the Karachi Accord, with Benazir Bhutto’s PPP, the outfit switched alliances and teamed up with Nawaz Sharief’s, Pakistan Muslim League (PML) in 1992. In Pakistan’s predominantly two party set-up, MQM which has time and again proved itself as the third largest political force, has swung between the two dominant parties and joined several ruling coalitions at the federal level and in Sindh. The elected local bodies in Karachi and Hyderabad have been overwhelmingly dominated by the MQM (A).

    Key members of MQM Central

    • Altaf Hussain - Founder and leader.
    • Afaq Ahmad - Founder but later split and formed his own faction popularly known as MQM Haqiqi
    • Imran Farooq - Convenor of MQM's Coordination Committee.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2005/07/28/nat17.htm Imran Farooq named new MQM convener] ''Dawn Newspaper'', July 28, 2005</li>

    <li id="cite_note-8">'''[[#cite_ref-8|^]]''' [http://www.mqm.com/English-News/Aug-2005/news050805a.html MQM's Vision for an Egalitarian Order Through Local Government]</li> <li id="cite_note-9">'''[[#cite_ref-9|^]]''' [http://www.mqm.org/altaf-hussain-religious-tolerance.htm MQM & Minority Rights]</li> <li id="cite_note-10">'''[[#cite_ref-10|^]]''' [http://www.mqm.org/English-News/July-2007/news070721.htm MQM Praised by Christian Leaders]</li> <li id="cite_note-11">'''[[#cite_ref-11|^]]''' [http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Apr-2007/rally150407.htm MQM's April 15, 2007 Rally "Against Religious Extremism and Baton and Kalashnikov Shariah"]</li> <li id="cite_note-12">'''[[#cite_ref-12|^]]''' [http://www.mqm.org/ah-int-edgaretimes-201198.htm http://www.mqm.org/ah-int-edgaretimes-201198.htm]</li> <li id="cite_note-13">'''[[#cite_ref-13|^]]''' [http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Jan-2007/news070113.htm Altaf Hussan's address to the Punjab committee 13 January 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</li> <li id="cite_note-14">'''[[#cite_ref-14|^]]''' [http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/14/local2.htm Basis for Operation Against MQM]</li> <li id="cite_note-15">'''[[#cite_ref-15|^]]''' [http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/14/local2.htm Sindh High Court Finds all MQM Leaders and Workers Innocent]</li> <li id="cite_note-16">'''[[#cite_ref-16|^]]''' [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/s/w_asia/54241.stm Sindh High Court Finds Altaf Hussain Innocent]</li> <li id="cite_note-17">'''[[#cite_ref-17|^]]''' [http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=68212 Major Kaleem Appeals in Supreme Court]</li> <li id="cite_note-18">'''[[#cite_ref-18|^]]''' [http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/14/local2.htm Supreme Court Dismisses the Case]</li> <li id="cite_note-19">'''[[#cite_ref-19|^]]''' [http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsSep2002/cover4sep.htm Newsline]</li> <li id="cite_note-20">'''[[#cite_ref-20|^]]''' [http://www.dawn.com/2005/10/08/ed.htm The daily Dawn editorial]</li> <li id="cite_note-21">'''[[#cite_ref-21|^]]''' [http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/19/top3.htm http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/19/top3.htm]</li>

    <li id="cite_note-22">'''[[#cite_ref-22|^]]''' [www.jasara.com]</li></ol></ref>

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