Altaf Hussain (Pakistani politician)

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Altaf Hussain (Urdu: الطاف حسین) is the founding leader of a political party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement formerly known as the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Early life

Altaf Hussain was born on September 17, 1953 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. His father Nazeer Hussain (d. 1967 and mother Khurshed Begum (d. 1985) both belonged to Agra, UP, India.

Altaf Hussain hails from an educated middle class family. They lived in a small house in the 'Azizabad' area of Karachi, which is now the Head Office of MQM and is called Nine Zero because of its address.

Altaf Hussain graduated from Islamia Science College in Karachi. Later he studied at University of Karachi in Department of Pharmacy. But he had to leave for higher education because of politics.

Political career

Altaf Hussain was involved in student politics at University of Karachi and formed a student union called All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) on June 11, 1978. In late 1970s, Altaf Hussain was accused of orchestrating murder of his political opponent and he fled to United States. Altaf Hussain settled in Chicago was working as a taxi driver when Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the main military intelligence agency in Pakistan convinced him to return back with full protection. Altaf Hussain founded Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to represent aspirations of Urdu speaking people of Sindh.

It is generally believed in Pakistan that the MQM was created by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the main military intelligence agency in Pakistan. 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 would distract Benazir Bhutto and her political party, Pakistan Peoples Party, from launching a campaign against the military government of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Altaf Hussain was living in Chicago at the time and was called to form a Muhajir ethnic political party with funds supplied by the ISI.

The success of MQM in attracting support of Muhajirs both surprised and scared the ISI. This unexpected popularity helped the 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, the Pakistan Army launched a military operation to restore law and order in Karachi. The MQM gunmen were killed or arrested, and 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 the subsequent heavy activities of Pakistani police and paramilitary, the MQM has given up its violent activities.

Rise of MQM

The earlier formed All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization (APMSO) was restructured as Muhajir Qaumi Movement on March 18, 1984. Later on August 8, 1986 Altaf Hussain led first historical public convention at Nishtar Park in Karachi.

Exile to London

On December 21, 1991 Altaf Hussain was attacked but he escaped injuries. On January 1 1992 he left Pakistan for Saudi Arabia and after one month moved to London, United Kingdom. He also faces murder and rape charges in Pakistan which also force him never to return to Pakistan despite his party's involvement in the coalition government. During 1992 to 1993 Altaf Hussain's brothers and nephews were killed. The 1992 military operation in Karachi forced Altaf Hussain not to return Pakistan, he requested political asylum in United Kingdom. Later he became citizen of United Kingdom.

Marriage

He married a Baloch Sindhi lady, Malika Faiza Gabol who is daughter of Faisal Gabol, (now Faiza Altaf) in 2001. Altaf Hussain has a daughter, Afzaa Altaf, 4 years old.

Political ideologies & Reputation

Altaf Hussain, is an ardent supporter of downtrodden masses and proponent of middle-class revolution. He is always been opponent of feudals, intelligence agencies, and religious parties who capture 98 percent of the resources. Altaf Hussain is the first in Pakistan who introduced a new trend in the political culture by giving a non-feudal based political philosophy and forming a political party, which is the commonly associated as a representative of minorities. The people of Pakistan are well aware of his political ideologies and statements. And though most people of southern Pakistan agree for the need of a bigger representation in parliament, they no longer want Altaf Hussain representing them. He currently resides in London. Instad over a decade of exile, he is in touch with his workers and voters via telephone addresses and public video conference speeches in Pakistan. He is especially disliked and derided by religious parties of Pakistan on account of his moderate, liberal and unorthodox ideologies.

Recent Activities

The MQM's Mustafa Kamal elected as Nazim (Mayor) of Karachi in an local bodies election 2005 and took oath on October 17, 2005. Mustafa Kamal has somwehat lived up to the expectations by revampingt he infrastructure of Karachi, building bridges and roads, and also by privatising some governmental organisations which were full of corrpution. Kamal is popular in Karachi because of his young leadership. He is trying to build up traffice infrastructure and to improve he starts several projects like Hassan Square flyover, National Stadium flyover, Sohrab Goth flyover and many underpasses.

Recent trend

MQM boycotted 2001 municipal elections because it believed that the military government in place in Islamabad would not conduct free elections where MQM could win. Later MQM participated in 2002 national election and won most of the urban areas seats in Sindh province. Altaf Hussain supported General Pervez Musharraf's decision of favoring U.S.A and allied after September 11, 2001 attacks in New York. During the last quarter of 2006, Altaf Hussain actively mobilized public to gain the support of Women Protection Bill, approved by National Assembly on November 15 and promulgated w.e.f. December 1, 2006.

External links

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