Muttahida Qaumi Movement, متحدہ قومی موومنٹ

Muttahida Qaumi Movement, متحدہ قومی موومنٹ, United National Movement generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest liberal and secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh. 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. The organization maintains liberal, progressive and secular stances on many political and social issues.

From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the alleged target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Clean-up leaving thousands of Urdu-speaking civilians dead.

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.

Founding

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 by after several years, the Muhajir Quami Movement turned its name into Muttahida Quami 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. 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. In 1997, MQM replaced the term Muhajir in its name with Muttahida (Urdu for "United").

Late 1986–1990

In its early years, MQM drew enormous crowds, the epitome of which was the rally of August 8, 1986 at Nishtar Park, Karachi. Three years into its existence, MQM won the November 1987 local body elections in Karachi and Hyderabad and had several mayors win unopposed. 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. Thus, the alliance broke up in October 1989 and MQM joined hands with PPP's opponents. During these times MQM a made mark not only for violence and intimidation of political opponents, but also for public benefit initiatives. Khidmat-e-Khalq Committee, a social welfare initiative, was founded in 1978 which in 1998 transformed into Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF).

1990–1999

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. It is generally believed that MQM Haqiqi was formed by the Pakistani government/ISI to weaken MQM and was supported by successive federal governments and the military. In the years to come, federal governments switched between forming alliance with MQM and fighting against it to establish greater control over Karachi.

The political violence that started in 1990 gradually gained momentum in 1992 and culminated in a full-fledged military operation run by the federal government. 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. Operation Clean-Up began in June 1992 and, 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. Political violence erupted while MQM organized protests and strikes. The lawlessness prevailed in this largest metropolitan city of Pakistan which led to the 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. Since then, party is being run on autopilot by Hussain from London. In 1997, MQM boycotted the general elections and officially changed the previously maintained name 'Muhajir' to 'Mutahida'(English: "United").

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. Thus PPP formed both the provincial and federal government. Whereas, MQM Haqiqi failed to gain any seats at federal or provincial level.

Political violence gained momentum in 1993 and 1994. During the 1994 fighting 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.

2000–present

In 2001, MQM boycotted the local body elections but in the 2002 general elections, MQM won 17 out of 272 seats in national assembly.

Party structure

The party is led by Altaf Hussain under whose supervision, members of the Rabita Committee (also known as Central Coordination Committee) formulates political general stances. It consists of 24 members from Pakistan and 10 from London, United Kingdom.

MQM has several chapters across the world including United States, Canada, South Africa, several in Europe, and Japan. Currently, the heads of MQM North America are former Federal Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Ibad ur-Rehman.

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.

Accusation of Violence

In the mid-1990s, the MQM was heavily involved in the widespread political violence that wracked Pakistan's southern Sindh province, particularly Karachi, the port city that is the country's commercial capital. MQM Kaarkunaan 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.

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 the 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). 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).

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).

From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Cleanup leaving hundreds of civilians dead. 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.

History

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. 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.