| Muttahida Qaumi Movement متحدہ قومی مووﻣﻨﭧ |
|
|---|---|
| Leader | Altaf Hussain |
| Founder | Altaf Hussain |
| Deputy Convener | Anees Qaim khani |
| Parliamentary leader to the National Assembly | Farooq Sattar |
| Parliamentary leader to the Senate Secretariat | Babar Khan Ghauri |
| Founded | March 18, 1984 |
| Headquarters | Nine Zero, 494/8 Azizabad, Federal B. Area Karachi, Pakistan |
| Youth wing | APMSO |
| Ideology | Liberalism Secularism Muhajir nationalism |
| Official colors | Red, green and white |
| Seats in Senate | 6/100[1] |
| Seats in National Assembly | 25/339[2] |
| Election symbol | |
| Kite[3] | |
| Website | |
| www.mqm.com | |
| Party flag | |
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Urdu: متحدہ قومی موومنٹ, English: United National Movement) generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party[4] of Pakistan.[5] It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh.[6] The student organization, All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization (APMSO), was founded in 1978 by Altaf Hussain which subsequently gave birth to the Muhajir Quami Movement in 1984.[7] The organization maintains liberal, progressive and secular stances on many political and social issues.[8]
In 1997, the MQM officially removed the term Muhajir (which denotes the party's roots of Urdu-speaking Muslims) from its name, and replaced it with Muttahida ("United"). The MQM is one of few socially liberal political parties in Pakistan and organized the largest rallies in Pakistan in protest of the actions of al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001 demonstrating sympathy with the victims of the terrorist attacks.
Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is the second largest party in Sindh and the traditionally the third largest in the country, however it currently holds fourth highest number of seats in the National Assembly while maintaining its second position in the Sindh Assembly.[9]
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Muhajirs were the Urdu-speaking Muslims who migrated to Pakistan when the country emerged independent from British India in 1947. Karachi was then home to a very diverse set of ethnicities including Urdu and Gujarati speaking immigrants, Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baluchis and foreigners from several South Asian countries. In those times, Muhajirs were advancing in business and bureaucracy but many resented the quota system which facilitated Sindhis in gaining university slots and civil service jobs.[10] It was this very ethnic rivalry that led to Muhajir political mobilizaton, which was further provoked by the stagnant economy and the condition of Biharis in Bangladesh concentration camps.[11]
The MQM is the third largest political party in Pakistan, and the dominant party in Karachi. It was founded in 1984 by Altaf Hussain. At the time of inception, MQM represented only the Muhajir community but after several years, the Muhajir Qaumi Movement changed its name to Muttahida Qaumi Movement, thus welcoming all ethnic groups of Pakistan into its folds.
The first political organization of Muhajirs, called All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization (APMSO), was founded on 11 June 1978 by Altaf Hussain in Karachi University. On March 18, 1984, the APMSO evolved into a proper political organization—Muhajir Qaumi Movement.[7] It was launched to protect the Muhajir community who perceived themselves as the victims of discrimination and repression by the quota system that gave preference to certain ethnicities for admissions in educational institutions and employment in civil services.[12][13] In 1997, MQM replaced the term Muhajir in its name with Muttahida (Urdu for "United").[14]
The party is led by Altaf Hussain under whose supervision, members of the Rabita Committee (also known as Central Coordination Committee) formulate the party's political program. It consists of 24 members from Pakistan and 10 from London, United Kingdom.[15]
On 20 November 2011, Muttahida Qaumi Movement formally announced the formation of Central Executive Committee with its members drawn from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa, Balochistan and Sindh. Addressing a Press Conference, Farooq Sattar , a senior MQM official, told that the purpose of Central Executive Committee is to assist MQM Coordination Committee and the party in organizational matters, policy-making and preparation of manifesto.[16]
MQM focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment not only as human rights, but also because they are a pathway to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development.
MQM respect for the minorities rights and recognize the important role, played by the minorities of Pakistan in nation-building, the sacrifices rendered by them, and the problems and issues, faced by members of minorities. During several interviews, Mr. Hussien stresses the need of cultural Harmony, and to materialize his vision, MQM worker participates in and celebrates Holi, Dewali and Christmas festivals in large number.
MQM has several chapters across the world in the United States, Canada, South Africa, several European countries, and Japan.[17] Currently, the heads of MQM North America are former Federal Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Ibad ur-Rehman.
MQM Mayor Syed Mustafa Kamal for the city of Karachi was nominated for the the best Mayor of World (a title given by The City Mayors Foundation) in 2010 but he couldn't compete in the final round as his tenure ended before the required date for the competition. [18]
In its early years, MQM drew enormous crowds, the epitome of which was the rally of August 8, 1986 at Nishtar Park, Karachi.[19] Three years into its existence, MQM won the November 1987 local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad and had several mayors win unopposed.[7][19] Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won the highest number of seats in the general election of 1988 and formed a coalition government in the Sindh Province with the help of MQM, which then had a larger mandate in urban Sindh in comparison to PPP whose majority of support came from rural areas of Sindh. A 59-point agreement, called the Karachi Accord, was signed which included statements about protection of the democratic system and political rights, urban development goals, and creating objective criteria for admission to universities and colleges. Within a few months of the agreement, differences surfaced and MQM ministers in the Sindh Cabinet resigned because the agreement was not implemented.[20] Thus, the alliance broke up in October 1989 and MQM joined hands with PPP's opponents.[7] During these times MQM a made mark not only for violence and intimidation of political opponents, but also for public benefit initiatives.[21] Khidmat-e-Khalq Committee, a social welfare initiative, was founded in 1978 which in 1998 transformed into Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF).[22]
In the elections of October 1990, MQM emerged as the third strongest party in the country. This time, it made its alliance with Pakistan Muslim League (PML) to establish a provincial government in Sindh whereas PML formed the federal government.
During these times, small factions of MQM separated themselves from the main body of the party. The largest among these factions is MQM Haqiqi (English: Real MQM), which was formed by Afaq Ahmad and Amir Khan.[10] It is generally believed that MQM Haqiqi was formed by the collusion of Pakistani Government in power and the Establishment/ISI to weaken MQM and was supported by successive federal governments and the military.[10] In the years to come, federal governments switched between forming alliance with MQM and fighting against it to establish greater control over Karachi.[11]
From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Clean-up after it was accused of being behind recent surge in criminal activity , the operation led to thousands of Urdu-speaking civilians dead.[20][23]
The violence gripped the urban sindh politics in late 1980s after General Zial-ul-Haq's era, and finally in 1992, the then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif's government passed a resolution in assembly to launch a military operation in Karachi to target 72 'big fishes'. The federal government gave the reasoning behind this operation known as "Operation Clean-up" as the government's attempt to end terrorism in Karachi and to seize unauthorized arms.[19] Operation Clean-Up began in June 1992 which, by objective, sought to eliminate all terrorists irrespective of their political affiliation. MQM perceived this operation as an attempt to wipe out the party altogether.[7] Political violence erupted while MQM organized protests and strikes.[7] The lawlessness prevailed in the largest metropolitan city of Pakistan which led to the country's President dissolving the National Assembly.
During the 1992 violence, Altaf Hussain, left the country when a warrant was issued for him in connection with a murder.[24] Since then, the political party is run by Mr Hussain from self-imposed exile in London.[5][11]
MQM boycotted the subsequent 1993 general elections claiming organized military intimidation but participated in provincial elections. MQM secured 27 seats in provincial assembly, in comparison to its political rival PPP which won 56 seats. This resulted in PPP forming both the provincial and federal governments.[25] Whereas, MQM Haqiqi failed to gain any seats at federal or provincial level.[7]
Political violence gained momentum in 1993 and 1994. During the 1994 violence among MQM, MQM factions, and Sindhi nationalist groups, heavily political killings were reported. By July 1995, more than 1800 people had been assassinated in Karachi.[10] In 1997, MQM boycotted the general elections and officially changed the previously maintained name 'Muhajir' to 'Mutahida'(English: "United").[19]
In the mid-1990s, the MQM was accused of involvement in the widespread political violence that affected Pakistan's southern Sindh province, particularly Karachi, the port city that is the country's commercial capital. MQM Kaarkunaan (as activists are locally referred to) fought government forces, breakaway MQM factions, and militants from other ethnic-based movements. In the mid-1990s, the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, and others accused the MQM and a rival faction, MQM Haqiqi, of summary killings, torture, and other abuses. The MQM-A routinely denied involvement in violence.[10]
The MQM along with its other factions also have been accused of trying to intimidate journalists. In one of the most flagrant cases, in 1990 MQM leader Hussain publicly threatened the editor of the monthly NEWSLINE magazine after he published an article on MQM's alleged use of torture against dissident members (U.S. DOS Feb 1991). The following year, a prominent journalist, Zafar Abbas, was severely beaten in Karachi in an attack that was widely blamed on MQM leaders angered over articles by Abbas describing the party's factions. The same year, MQM activists assaulted scores of vendors selling DAWN, Pakistan's largest English-language newspaper, and other periodicals owned by Herald Publications (U.S. DOS Feb 1992).[10] The MQM has also frequently called strikes in Karachi and other cities in Sindh province and used killings and other violence to keep shops closed and people off the streets. During strikes, MQM-A activists have ransacked businesses that remained open and attacked motorists and pedestrians who ventured outside (U.S. DOS Feb 1996; Jane's 14 Feb 2003).[10]
The MQM allegedly raises funds through extortion, narcotics smuggling, and other criminal activities. In addition, Mohajirs in Pakistan and overseas provide funds to the MQM through charitable foundations (Jane's 14 Feb 2003).[10]
From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Cleanup leaving hundreds of civilians dead.[20][23] Torture cells allegedly maintained by MQM were discovered in 1992. These cells were allegedly used to torture the abducted members of MQM-Haqiqi and other political rivals.[7]
In 2001, MQM boycotted the local body elections but in the 2002 general elections, MQM won 17 out of 272 seats in national assembly.[26]
MQM currently holds 25 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan and 38 seats in the Provincial Assembly of Sindh. MQM also has 6 Senators and 2 Federal Ministers.[27]
During Operation Clean-up when MQM was accused of being anti-Pakistan and of planning a separatist break-away state 'Jinnahpur'. However, later the senior army officers involved confessed that Jinnahpur was "nothing but a drama" against MQM for the military operation and there was no map of Jinnahpur.[28][29]
The IJI government (an alliance of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Jamaat-i-Islami and other smaller religious parties) led by Nawaz Sharif at the time, completely denied the Jinnahpur saga.[30] In Pakistan on October 19th, 1992 newspapers carried an ISPR press release, conveying Army’s denial of the knowledge of the Jinnahpur plan.
The ISPR, the public relations arm of the Pakistan Army stated, "The Army had no evidence concerning the so-called Jinnahpur plan, it is clarified that the newspaper story in question is baseless. The Army has neither handed over to the government any document or map as reported, not is it in possession of any evidence concerning the so-called Jinnahpur Plan. It is also factually wrong that the matter was discussed at any meeting of the corps commander.”[30] Asif Zardari who is now President of Pakistan is said to have "said in a court premises in Karachi that the Jinnahpur scandal was created to malign the MQM."[30]
Director General Army Rangers Major-General Safdar Ali Khan and Colonel Commandant of V Corps Lieutenant General Naseer Akhtar at the time, maintain that Jinnahpur maps were indeed recovered but such reports were refuted under pressure of political leadership.[31]
Almost after decades, Now[Pakistan Army] Imtiaz Ahmed[Imtiaz_Ahmed_(brigadier)] (Brigadier) revealed in an interview that it was conspiracy against MQM by establishment of that time to demonize the leadership of MQM and all maps were fake.[32]
Fingers are pointed in all directions for the incident of 12 May 2007. Opposition party members blame MQM and its leadership in UK for planning the carnage which left 42 dead in 12 May incident.[5][12] In March 2007, President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf dismissed the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, on allegations of misconduct and misuse of authority.[33] This started the lawyers' movement throughout Pakistan and the suspended chief justice planned countrywide protests on 12 May 2007 including a visit to Karachi. Opposition parties alleged that MQM called its supporters out on streets to defend the decision of president and prevent the chief justice from leaving Karachi airport. MQM representative M. Anwer, however, pointed out that "We were the only party in the city that had permission from the authorities to hold a rally in the city on Saturday, so why would we shoot out own supporters?" Furthermore, he stated that "the killings are the fault of the PPP, the Awami National Party and an alliance of Islamic parties who 'wanted to politicise the issue of the chief justice's suspension.'"[5]
On 22 Nov 2009, Pakistan government released the limited list of beneficiaries of legal act called National Reconciliation Ordinance which granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money-laundering, murder and terrorism between 1 January 1986 and 12 October 1999, the period during democratic governments in Pakistan. None of the MQM personalities were included on money or corruption related basis. But names of two personalities of MQM were included in the list based on political cases. According to the list, Altaf Hussain allegedly had 72 cases, with 31 on murder and 11 on murder attempts. Farooq Sattar had allegedly 23 cases, including five on charges of murder and four on attempt to murder, including the murder of Hakim Said a leading philanthropist of Pakistan.[34] None of these cases have ever been proved or resulted in convictions thus increasing the likelihood of political fabrication.
MQM City Government (2002–2009)
MQM won the election of Karachi in 2002 and formed the govt, and appointed Mustafa Kamal as Mayor of Karachi.[35] Kamal completely changed the shape of the city by his efforts and improved the infrastructure like no other other among his predecessors. [36] He put Karachi on the map as one of the biggest developing metropolitain cities and was duly rewarded for his efforts by being named among the best mayors of the world.[37] On the other hand Kamal's tenure saw the city's law and order situation worsen. During Kamal's tenure as mayor Karachi was ranked as the third least safest city in the world behind Baghdad and Kinshasa[38] Electricity deficit worsened despite his efforts during his 5 year term and lead to many street protests. [39] On the other hand the road network which was previously in tatters during Kamal's predecessor Naimutullah Khan tenure was much improved leading to decrease in traffic congestion and frequent jams especially during the monsoon season. [40] The number of underpasses and flyovers constructed within record time was phenominal. 2011 saw the bloodiest street rivalries unfold, on the backdrop of MQM demands not being met by the federal government. Over 300 people were killed in sniper shootings in July 2011 and 47 were killed in a single day of 17th August 2011 when MQM agreed to rejoin the government. Analysts blame the violence of turf wars between the MQM and the ANP which is finding a strong hold in Karachi on the back of mass immigrations of Pakhtuns.[41]
MQM in Federal Coalition Government (2002- to Date)
Currently MQM has 25 MNAs in the National Assembly and are member of the coalition government. Farooq Sattar leads the group of MNAs in the assembly.
In a 1998 US government report, giving references of the allegations of Nawaz Sharif declared MQM and its opponents(which was then backed by establishment) as a "cause of much of the violence" in Karachi. Allegations of fostering the criminal elements and generating income through extortion and racketeering were also made in this report.[42]Mustafa Kamal has visited Washginton DC in capacity of Mayar many times.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAKso58KtEU Since 2002, MQM is part of various coalition governments with Pervaiz Mushraf and Asif Ali Zardari. When their interests are not protected, they resign from the government alliance.[43] But due to its limited popularity in the rest of the Pakistan, cannot survive long in opposition and join the coalition government again.[44]
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