Get well soon, Altaf Hussain
Daily Times has, today, reported about MQM leader Altaf Hussain’s serious illness and the reason why he was not able to meet President Zardari during his last trip to London. According to another blog (Jazba), Altaf Hussain suffers from liver and kidney ailment due to which he might have been shifted to a hospital in Germany.
We wish to convey our good wishes to Altaf Hussain praying for his health and swift recovery. Notwithstanding some reservations about the MQM’s style of politics, we very much appreciate his and his party’s role in the Constitutional Reforms Committee, as well as their stance against growing religious extremism in Pakistani society.
Altaf seriously ill, spokesman denies
LAHORE: The mysterious absence of MQM chief Altaf Hussain from the political scene has raised several doubts about his health, with sources claiming Altaf is currently undergoing treatment in Germany. However, an MQM spokesman expressed his ignorance of such reports. The exact nature of Altaf’s illness is not clear as yet, as MQM spokesman Salahuddin did not deny or confirm the rumours.
He said Altaf was out of London and his location could not be disclosed due to security concerns.
The spokesman said Altaf had addressed the party on March 16 and was in good health at the time. Sources disclosed that PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain had recommended a homeopathic doctor in Germany to Altaf. Former prime minister Shujaat and former Senate chairman Waseem Sajjad have both been under the doctor’s care for some time. The MQM chief also did not meet the president during Asif Ali Zardari’s last trip to the United Kingdom. The sources said that since that time, Altaf has been under treatment. It was reported that Altaf had ignored the president, however, MQM denied this impression. A party spokesman said at the time that the PPP and MQM had cordial relations and Altaf had not met Zardari because he was not in London. staff report
Source: Daily Times
Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Altaf Hussain’s absence in the recent tug of war between political parties over the proposed constitutional amendments gave rise to rumours and speculations. There are reports that he is being treated in Germany for serious illnesses. Despite denials by the MQM spokesperson, there seems to be a modicum of truth in these speculations. The reason for MQM being tightlipped is more than Altaf Hussain’s security. There have been, so far, no succession arrangements within the party. If something were to happen to Altaf Hussain, there is a question mark over who will succeed him and what procedure will be followed to choose a successor. There is certainly a difference between a supreme leader who has set up a party and someone who has now presumably earned his/her spurs in the course of the existence of the party.
MQM has gone through many twists and turns including a split, and the original second tier leadership is virtually nowhere to be seen. A few names immediately come to mind as possible successors: Farooq Sattar, MQM’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad and the outgoing nazim of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal. Although Farooq Sattar has been in the forefront of MQM’s politics for many years now, it is unclear if he holds enough influence to be able to compete with other MQM heavyweights. Ishratul Ebad will have to relinquish his office and wait for two years if the party wants the new head to run for elected office. Reportedly, Mustafa Kamal has earned an important position in the party by efficiently running Karachi for four years as nazim. However, his experience has been limited to Karachi and he may not be considered a national stature leader. There are others notable names in MQM; however, it is not clear if any one of them enjoys the undisputed support of not only the top leadership, but of the party as a whole. If MQM were unable to go through a transition or succession in a disciplined way, which is its hallmark, there could conceivably be internal conflict and fissures in what has so far been a monolithic party under Altaf’s iron grip. That will throw the political situation of the country, particularly Sindh, into uncertainty.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=201045\story_5-4-2010_pg3_1
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Altaf Bhai — man behind the myth Monday, April 05, 2010
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=201045\story_5-4-2010_pg7_27
Only a few people know that Quaid-e-Tehreek Altaf Hussain was once a cadet of the 1970-71 National Cadet Scheme (NCS) and completed his one-year training and was selected to fight in East Pakistan. Altaf Bhai, along with all his colleagues, was about to board a ship from Karachi to Chittagong just when India sealed all its borders, robbing our bhai of the chance to demonstrate his physical prowess. Later, the NCS was converted into the 55th Baloch Regiment. Most of Altaf’s colleagues were given regular commissions, but the MQM chief was among the few who were dropped, unfortunately.
Critics say that the army’s touchstone was perfect and they had identified the killer instinct in Altaf. However, cynics hold the army responsible for Altaf being what he is today, saying that had the army chosen the MQM chief, he would have been, at least, a disciplined soldier.
During his military training, one of his true passions was weapons: his focus was on which weapon could do the most damage. He told several of his colleagues at the time that he desired an army of his own, which would fight his enemies for the sake of justice.
If the army had taken him onboard, Altaf Bhai might have been a retired brigadier or a retired major general today. Ironically, if that were the case, Brigadier Altaf Hussain would have made the MQM his prime target. But Altaf was destined for a different future and was chosen as the painter of a much wider canvas.
His opponents painted him as a Gestapo chief, where no member of his party could dare differ with the boss, but in reality, Altaf Bhai’s followers obeyed him out of ‘respect’. People picture him as a tyrant, but I know he is a very kind and caring man, who does not kill his opponents, but rather runs a ‘travel agency’ that issues ‘tickets for the heavens’.
It has been alleged that the MQM was the brainchild of Ziaul Haq. During the dictator’s time, Karachi was considered to be the stronghold of the Jamaat-e-Islami and that to break this hold, the establishment decided to create the creature that is the MQM.
The establishment got what it wished for and the JI was ousted from the provincial capital. But little did it know the aftershocks that would follow its move, the MQM’s spinnerets built such a strong web around Karachi that all the party’s opponents were suffocated.
In contrast, Altaf’s grandfather was a religious scholar hailing from Agra, and his father was a stationmaster who died in 1967. He was known to be a thorough gentleman and would probably never have dreamed that his son would one day become a symbol of fear.
Altaf Bhai has been known to be a neutral person and has never sided even with his close allies. To be fair, we have witnessed his impartiality on several occasions. Unfortunately, whenever the elephant of the establishment puts its foot on the tail of the mouse (democracy), Bhai remains neutral.
Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari are the best examples of this case. When Bhai opposed the National Reconciliation Ordinance, his opponents alleged that he had drilled a hole in the same boat he had been sailing on, but they forgot that he was wearing a “khaki lifejacket”. Nawaz Sharif declared the MQM a terrorist organisation, and on October 28, 1998, accused Altaf Hussain of masterminding Hakim Saeed’s murder. On May 31, 2001, the Sindh High Court acquitted all the accused. Even this acquital could not change Nawaz Sharif’s views about the MQM. But Altaf Bhai holds the nerves of thousands of voters in urban Sindh and one cannot believe that only terror could drive them to vote for the MQM, which is why Nawaz Sharif should review his policy towards the MQM.
Altaf even managed to outdo his astrologist, who predicted that wealth and power would stay away from him. But Bhai found the remedy and he “dragged” wealth and power close to him through his comrades. However, predictions about his marriage might be true after all, as it was foretold that his married life would not be a successful story. Being an urban Sindhi, he married a rural Sindhi woman as a goodwill gesture; unfortunately that bond ended in separation.
He moved to the UK in 1991 and did not return home, choosing instead to become a British citizen. His astrologist predicted his survival in some castle, whether it be Abbasi Shaheed Hospital or the castle in London. Unfortunately, the said astrologist is not with us anymore (he died of natural causes), otherwise I might have had my luck tested by him.
There is a long list of MQM activists who left the party, and were later ‘eliminated’. Even the police officers who carried out operations against the MQM met their maker, one after the other. Investigators failed to find the MQM’s fingerprints on these murders, but the families of the victims alleged that investigators had ignored “their gloves”. The MQM might feel it’s a coincidence that all of its opponents died one after the other, but the fact remains that those who hold the MQM responsible for the killings have no evidence to back their claims. Even the May 12, 2007 massacre failed to bring any witnesses against the MQM to the forefront.
It is fair to ask how Altaf Bhai survives in London when he has no job. Now his party admits that they send “funds” to Altaf Bhai to allow him to meet his day-to-day expenses, while his opponents claim that over a million pounds are transferred to Bhai’s Swiss accounts every month. In the UK, the MQM chief does nothing but run a secretariat. He does not pay any notable tax to the British government, as he lives on charity.
Bhai started his political career in 1978 by forming the All-Pakistan Mohajir Student Organisation (APMSO). He received his political training in the violence-soaked atmosphere of the Karachi University, where the Islami Jamiat Taliba and the Sindh People’s Student Federation struggled for power. Altaf wanted an ethnic platform to express his grievance that major national parties were ignoring the mohajirs. In 1979, he was sentenced to nine months in prison and nine lashes by a military court, but the Sindh High Court suspended the lashes.
He then moved to the US and worked as a taxi driver and was reportedly issued seven traffic tickets in a single day, which is a record with the NYPD. He failed to land a decent job despite being a qualified pharmacist in Pakistan. This added to his belief that the mohajirs would not get a fair deal until they expressed their strength.
On March 18, 1984 he announced the Mohajir Qaumi Movement and focused on ethnic politics that attracted his base. Later, he realised he had amassed enough power to make a shift out of ethnic politics and converted his party to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
He managed to sweep elections in all educational institutions in Sindh’s major cities like Hyderabad, Karachi and Sukkur. In 1987, his party swept the local bodies elections in Karachi and Hyderabad.
Bhai announced he would quit politics on November 15, 1992 with Azeem Tariq set to replace him. But even the best-laid plans can go awry. On June 2, 1993 Azeem Tariq was assassinated in his Azizabad residence – a known MQM stronghold. Unfortunately, conspirators alleged that Bhai had been behind the murder. Despite being blamed for any and every drop of blood shed in Karachi – whether it be the May 12, 2007 or the killing of political opponents – no court of law has ever held the MQM responsible for any such acts. In the day and age of an “independent” judiciary, we will give the MQM the benefit of the doubt.
Amir Khan and Afaq Khan shocked Altaf Bhai when they joined the establishment in making a faction of his party, the MQM-Haqiqi. This group posed a fresh threat to this person, after which he moved to London. Three MPAs also resigned from the assembly during Jam Sadiq’s regime. Unfortunately, they are no more.
During the MQM’s tenure in Karachi, bodies with holes drilled in them were sent to Punjab and they had Punjabis, Pathans and Sindhis in their crosshairs. The Sindhis were eliminated and their oldest Goths ruined in the name of development. The Baloch were deprived and confined to a certain area. No major development in education, health and civil life were seen in Lyari and other strongholds of other communities. Even during the golden period of Mustafa Kamal, all his kamals (good deeds) were confined to his own community.
The PPP, PML-N and PML-Q need to ally with them to make a government. The first two declared the MQM a terrorist organisation, but embraced them again when they needed to. The MQM has announced to quit the government in every coalition for almost a hundred times now, but it has never happened, as they cannot not survive without power. It does not matter whether it is a political government or dictatorship, the MQM is a part of it.
After the first military operation in Karachi in 1992, several torture cells were traced, including the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, but an establishment chump, Brig (r) Imtiaz, jumped in to give the MQM a clean chit from all sins, including the Jinnahpur incident.
Upon this, an analyst commented that even Hitler did not justify the Gestapo’s killings, so how did an establishment baby exonerate the MQM.
Imran Khan is the real critic of Altaf Bhai, but believes the MQM
is the real party of the masses, if aggressive elements are omitted. Don’t worry Imran, Altaf Bhai’s successors are the last hope!
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Mr. Altaf Hussain Opposes Kalabagh Dam but MQM supports Kalabagh Dam.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE KALA-BAGH DAM IS ANTI-SINDH – ALTAF HUSSAIN London – 31 August 2001 http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Aug-2001/news010831.htm
Mr Altaf Hussain. MQM Founder and Leader, has strongly condemned the decision of construction of the Kala-Bagh Dam and termed it as Anti-Sindh. He was addressing a hurriedly called meeting of the Members of the MQM Central Coordination Committee, Sindh Organising Committee and former Haq Parast Members of National and Provincial Assemblies.
Mr Altaf Hussain stated that the people of Sindh have unanimously rejected and collectively condemned the Kala-Bagh Dam Project because this project is against the interest of the Sindh Province, a conspiracy to barren the land of Sindh and a matter of life of death. He reminded that the Provincial Assembly of Sindh has also unanimously agreed and passed a resolution against the project whereby completely rejecting the construction of Kala-Bagh Dam. However, against the earnest desires and wishes of the people of Sindh, the Punjabi Establishment is bent upon carrying out this Anti-Sindh Project. In addition, the Punjabi Establishment has also started working on another Anti-Sindh Project, i.e. Greater Thal Canal Project. Mr Hussain warned that the people of Sindh would never accept the Anti-Sindh Projects such as the construction of Kala-Bagh Dam and Greater Thal Canal. In the light of the announcement of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), to construct the Kala-Bagh Dam, Mr Hussain advised the MQM Coordination Committee to immediately organise to hold a seminar inviting the intellectuals, professors and technical experts. He also advised to take up this matter with all concerned. The Members of the MQM Coordination Committee after deliberations has decided to hold a seminar in Karachi, to highlight the “apprehensions of the people of Sindh on the construction of Kala-Bagh Dam and the Greater Thal Canal”, on 5 September 2001. Renowned intellectuals, professors, technical experts and teachers of Sindh Province would be invited to address the seminar.
MUTTAHIDA QUAMI MOVEMENT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KALABGAH DAM – RABITA COMMITTEE http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Dec-2005/news051218.htm
London – 18 December 2005 The Central Co-ordination Committee (Rabita Committee) of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has unanimously decided not to support the construction of the Kalabagh Dam in its long and emergency meeting held at its Head Office in Karachi and at the International Secretariat in London simultaneously.
Mr Altaf Hussain, founder and leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) addressing the meeting of the Central Co-ordination Committee sought the opinion of all its members individually and it was unanimously decided that MQM will not support the construction of the Kalabagh Dam and will face any consequences resulting from its opposition.
The Members of the Central Co-ordination Committee said that 3 provinces of the country are against the Kalabagh Dam and bulldozing the unanimous decision of 3 smaller provinces would be morally wrong and against the principles of democracy and would not be in the interests of the country and its people. They further added that the maximum restiveness and apprehensions exists amongst the people of Sindh regarding the construction of the Kalabagh Dam and the peoples of Sindh are also unanimously against the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. The Members of the Rabita Committee emphasised that the MQM cannot even dream of taking such steps which would be against the aspirations of the people of Sindh and would always stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Sindh. Mr Altaf Hussain after having heard the views of all the Members of the Central Co-ordination Committee ratified their unanimous decision of not supporting the construction of the Kalabagh Dam. Addressing the people of Punjab, Mr Hussain asked them to understand the apprehensions and concerns of the smaller provinces and demonstrate solidarity with the people of the smaller provinces, which would help develop national integration and harmony, end the differences and dichotomy between the people of Punjab and 3 smaller provinces. This act of the people of Punjab would also help stop creation of further misunderstandings between the people of provinces. KALABAGH DAM ISSUE AND MQM
2006 http://www.mqm.org/English-News/Kalabagh%20Dam2.htm
Now in 2010 – Somersault on Kalabagh Dam because of Political Rally in Punjab. “Kalabagh Dam must be built if all agree” By Express April 25, 2010 http://tribune.com.pk/story/8921/kalabagh-dam-must-be-built-if-all-agree/ KBD issue can be resolved through dialogue: MQM Sunday, April 25, 2010 By our correspondent http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=235900
KARACHI: MQM questions minister’s remarks on Kalabagh dam By Habib Khan Ghori February 13, 2009 Friday Safar 17, 1430 http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/13/local1.htm Mr Sabzwari, who is also a minister in the PPP led government, recalled that the Kalabagh Dam was a project which had been rejected unanimously by the people of Sindh and the MQM, being a representative party from the province, had even before the 2002 elections held seminars and called strikes in 2001. He said the MQM defended Sindh’s interests in the house as well. He said that not only had resolutions been passed, but they were also taken to the prime minister and president to demand that the dam project be shelved until Sindh’s objections were dealt with. Mr Sabzwari welcomed the PPP’s decision, made soon after assuming power, to shelve the dam project.
MQM sets foot in Punjab’s political battlefield By Muhammad Akram Sunday, April 25, 2010 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20104\25\story_25-4-2010_pg7_23
LAHORE: The MQM appears to have softened its stance on the construction of the Kalabagh Dam, the most controversial project since its inception more than four decades ago and largely considered as only beneficial to Punjab. The party will be formally reaching out to the people of Punjab through a convention today (Sunday), simultaneously in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan.
Shaheen Sehbai and MQM:)))
GEO TV’s Tickers & Shaheen Sehbai incite MQM-PPP Clash.
http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2010/01/geo-tvs-tickers-shaheen-sehbai-incite.html
Mr Shaheen Sehbai, Group Editor, The News International always “sees” something which is not there and that’s what he did in his yesterday’s “Trash” which he termed a “News Analysis”. This Term of Accursed “Sindh Card” was first used by the same Mr Shaheen Sehbai to attain some unlterior motives. Shaheen Sehbai had tried to incite Sindhi Punjabi Clash after Benazir Bhutto’s Assassination in 2007. REFERENCE: The contours of a changed, unwritten script Situationer By Shaheen Sehbai Wednesday, November 04, 2009 All power players focus on constitutional knock-out By Shaheen Sehbai Friday, October 23, 2009 AND Sindh is angry and Punjab is not helping By Shaheen Sehbai Sunday, January 06, 2008
In his above article he is praising MQM whereas the same Shaheen Sehbai had tried to incite a Clash between MQM and PAK ARMY when he was in Exile in USA through Columns in South Asia Tribune. Mr Shaheen Sehbai (former correspondent of Daily Dawn; former editor of The News; ex Director News of ARY ONE TV Channel; former director of GEO News Network; and presently Group Editor the News), escaped from Pakistan to save himself from the so-called wrath of the establishment headed by General Musharraf, after the controversy surrounding his story about the murder of Daniel Pearl. It was apparently simply to obtain the Green Card for himself, and his family in the United States. Mr Sehbai then started to run a web based news service, i.e., South Asia Tribune, funded through dubious sources, but he suddenly reappeared and closed his website. During his self-imposed exile in the USA, he used to raise hue and cry against the military establishment that he and his family members’ life was in danger, but the so-called danger suddenly vanished after the whole family getting the Green Cards. He then returned to Pakistan and that too under the same Musharraf regime, and joined ARY TV channel, then GEO, and then the News, where he is presently working.
Is the Army sincere with Altaf Bhai’s MQM? By Abdul Sattar Issue No 19, Nov 25-Dec 1, 2002 ISSN:1684-2075
KARACHI: What is going on in Karachi’s No-Go Areas is a mystery known only to the secret agencies of General Pervez Musharraf. Apparently the Army is trying to appease Altaf Hussain’s MQM by hitting out at the MQM Haqiqi Group but in reality the agencies do not want to hurt their own creation. This has led to a stand off between the new Government of Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali and Altaf Bhai who withdrew his candidate for a cabinet seat at the last minute. Attacks on Dr. Farooq Sattar while taking over an office in the No Go Area of Landhi further compounded the situation for the administration. What has been going on is like a scene of a suspense thriller. After the vociferous demands of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain regarding elimination of these NGAs, President Musharraf gave a statement in favor of MQM and reportedly ordered abolition of all these areas.
But subsequent statements of his Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider and Information Minister Nisar Memon indicated that Pakistani agencies were still divided over the issue. Both these ministers said there were no NGAs in Karachi and it was a dispute between the two groups of MQM. Their statements gave the first clue that the most powerful agencies of the government were not in favour of abolishing the NGAs. On November 18 Altaf Bhai decided to support the PML(Q) on the assurance that the government would abolish the NGAs. Next day government started the crackdown on the Haqiqi group. Its sector and unit offices were sealed and its leaders including Afaq Ahmed and Amir Khan were besieged in the party head office Baitul Humza. But Altaf Bhai got alerted when both Afaq, Amir and other leaders managed to escape, despite the heavy presence of the Rangers and police. They even held a telephonic press conference. On Nov 20 the activists of Mutahida reached Landhi along with Dr. Farooq Sattar, Nasreen Jalil, Abdul Qadir Lakhani and other leaders of the party and tried to take over the head office of the Haqiqi. They were attacked and the female activists of Haqiqi manhandled Nasreen Jalil. Altaf Bhai’s men managed to occupy only three units of Landhi and six others stayed under the control of Haqiqi who were heavily armed despite the presence of police and law enforcement agencies.
If one compares this operation with that launched against the Altaf Group on June19, 1992, it was clear that the agencies did not want to eliminate the Haqiqi Group. In 1992 when the operation against the Altaf Group started, activists of Haqiqi came along with Pakistan Army and the troops not only allowed Haqiqi activists to torture activists of Altaf Group but some of them were killed right in front of these troops. Those killed included the brother of Haroon Siddiqi, a former Altaf Group MPA who was shot in Unit 83. The army arrested every one. But in the current operation the attitude of the police and Rangers was totally different. When the Rangers besieged Baitul Hamza, Afaq Ahmed and other leaders of the party were inside it. The Rangers did not allow police to get near the Head office of the Haqiqi, thus deliberately delaying the arrest of Afaq. Haqiqi leaders claimed that 300 of its workers had been arrested but not a single prominent leader was named. Most of those arrested were youngsters and students of Matric or 9th class. The Haqiqi Group had close relations with the agencies and an army picket had been established near their head office for a long time, manned by the Rangers. That is why the Rangers were reluctant to arrest leaders of the Group.
Most of the activists of Haqiqi were armed and present at Landhi No 6, 5,3,4 and 5.5 locations but the police did not try to disarm them. The activists of the Mutahida were also armed but not as heavily as that of Haqiqi. They were present at Babar markets and two other units in Landhi. In Malir, Shah Faisal, Lines Area and Liaqautabad the Haqiqi workers were heavily armed and Mutahida was to face a stiff resistance if they tried to penetrate. Police and Rangers were simply watching as silent spectators and doing nothing to disarm the group. Basically the agencies wanted to convey a message to the government that if these areas were opened to Mutahida there would be serious bloodshed and on this pretext they might discontinue the operation against the NGAs. On Nov 22 an activist of the Haqiqi was fired upon in 2 B Sector of Landhi. He died on the same day. Following his death tension gripped Landhi and the office of Mutahida at Korangi No1 was attacked leaving four people injured. This happened in the heavy presence of the Rangers and police.
On Nov 22 female activists of the Haqiqi demonstrated in front of the Governor House in Karachi. They were armed with sticks and injured some police officials and tried to capture an armored carrier vehicle of the police. They remained there for over 100 minutes shouting slogans against the government. Interestingly the police did not turn violent giving yet another signal that the operation against Haqiqi was not going to be severe. On Nov 21 an evening Urdu newspaper in Karachi published a report quoting the agencies in which they feared that a bloodbath may occur as both groups of the MQM were amassing weapons and trying to prepare for pitched battles against each other. The same newspaper published a report about the formation of Mohajir National Front, to be led by ousted Secretary General Dr. Imran Farooq. This was interpreted as a psychological tactic of the agencies. It seems that they want to divide the Altaf Group into as many groups as possible, like the Jeay Sindh.
There are also conflicting views about the crackdown. Some people think that the government wanted the support of Altaf Group for Mr. Jamali and now that he has got through the new regime may not honor the secret deal reached between the establishment and Altaf Bhai. Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed’s statement also bolstered this view as he said after the election of the PM, the situation would change. Another view is that the agencies would keep both the groups in the NGAs so that the presence of Rangers and interference of the federal government agencies could be justified. Analysts believe if the government would use the Haqiqi against the Mutahida, Altaf Bhai will not completely cooperate with the PML(Q), thus threatening to bring down Mr. Jamali. Others believe the MQM wants the chief ministership of the Sindh and it seems firm in doing so.
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Are the ‘No Go Areas’ a Recipe for Disaster in Sindh By Abdus Sattar Agha Issue No 17, Nov 11-17, 2002 ISSN:1684-2075
LONDON: MQM Leader Altaf Hussain’s announcement to wage a war against the establishment has surprised many political observers but the real secret deal under way between the MQM and the Musharraf Government is to accommodate Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider in the Senate on an MQM ticket. Mr Haider recently praised Altaf Hussain as a “very responsible leader” and the sudden attention being paid to the “No Go Areas” (NGAs) in Karachi has given rise to serious speculation that MQM was asking for its pound of flesh before it could consider any concession to the Musharraf regime.
Analysts understand why General Musharraf did not say any thing about the NGAs earlier during the three years of his rule. He was in the army when his fellow generals decided to form the rival group of the MQM and fully supported them. Late COAS General Asif Nawaz had even publicly stated that if there could be 11 Muslim Leagues, why could not there be two MQMs. On 19 June 1992 the army brought the Haqiqi group to the urban areas of Karachi. Many MPAs and MNAs of the Altaf group were forced to change their loyalty and all this happened at a time when the army was present in the city and a crackdown against Altaf group was going on. It means that Musharraf must have been aware of the fact that there were certain NGAs but he did nothing about them. Even during the recent elections these areas were not abolished and Mutahida was denied entry into these areas. So, what has prompted Gen. Musharraf to give a statement in favor of MQM now. Some believe a secret deal has been struck.
Analysts also believe that the MQM may again be used against the PPP if it comes into power. As the influence of the party has been reduced in many parts of Karachi, it is essential that Altaf Hussain’s group is provided a launching base for any powerful agitation against the government. According to another view point, MQM might be inducted into the new Sindh administration and for that it would have demanded entry into these NGAs. Others say the former members of the MQM Coordination Committee did not effectively raise the issue of NGAs which made Mr Altaf Hussain very angry. They mainly focused on ministries and privileges which annoyed Mr Hussain who dissolved the Committee. Yet another view is that Mr Hussain was exasperated over the defeat of the MQM in some areas and thought that he was not given accurate reports regarding the party position of those areas. MQM also no longer raises any popular slogan. It has already used the slogan of a separate province and provincial autonomy which became quite unpopular.
Thus the NGAs are being used as a new slogan, according to this school of thought. Activists of the party were dejected when the party lost seats of national and provincial assemblies from Landhi and it is said that many workers of the party were now sure that Haqiqi could never be expelled from these NGAs so this issue had to be raised to enhance their morale and keep them involved. It is thought the workers of the NGAs are more active in the party than those of other areas and that is why it was important to demand MQM’s entry. Another analysis suggests that the threat to the establishment regarding the abolition of NGAs has been given to divert the attention of the party workers from the internal contradictions and differences of the party because on this issue the workers are more emotional than on any other issue. It is interesting to note that in past MQM has been a part of the government but it did not raise the issue of NGAs as vehemently as it is doing now.
If after Ramadan the NGAs were not abolished then it would be clear that the slogan of its abolishment was raised to divert the attention of the people from the internal contradictions of the party. Mr Hussain has said that his party would abolish the NGAs itself if the establishment did not do so. This indicates that there could be bloodshed in the city and taking this as an excuse the establishment might resort to impose Governor’s Rule in the province where PPP would be in power. It may be mentioned that the first government of Benazir was destabilized by MQM following the operation of the Pakka Qila in Hyderabad. When the second Benazir government dissolved, she was blamed for extra judicial killings, though Nasirullah Babar, the incharge of the crackdown on MQM, had admitted that MI and other agencies helped him conduct the operation. So it is clear that with whose consent the extra judicial killings were carried out. But these killings were cited as one of the reasons for the dissolution of her government. If the MQM really tries to get the NGAs vacated, it may be a difficult task because most of the die-hard MQM activists had either been killed in fake police encounters or jailed. In the last five years the party has also expelled many militants like Kala Shafiq of New Karachi and many others besides suspending workers like Javed Shahpuri of the Liaquatabad. This, however does not mean that the MQM has no die hard activists. There are still many who are ready to obey Altaf Bhai. If the party tries to enter those areas, there will be great bloodshed which might pave the way for the army government to impose extra constitutional rule on the province or even the country on the one hand and start a crackdown against the party on the other.
Altaf Hussain‘s warning to those who were trying to create the forward block in the MQM indicates that there are severe differences within the party and the decision to dissolve the coordination committee has been delayed to see that how many people go with Dr. Imran Farooq. This is also an attempt to stop them from doing so. The dilemma is how to abolish the NGAs as they are protected by the agencies themselves. In the past all attempts to do so have failed. During Liaquat Jatoi’s government the activists of the MQM tried to enter these areas but they were resisted by the rival group while Police and Rangers remained either neutral or supported the rival Haqiqi group. The agencies do not want to abolish the NGAs because they are afraid that if the city is given back to MQM, they will go beyond the control of the agencies. These agencies may also try to play games with the MQM. They may ask Mutahida to let Haqiqi work in other parts of Karachi which would be impossible for MQM to accept. It is believed that during the recent elections this offer was made by the Haqiqi and the government which was turned down by Mutahida
Altaf Hussain has also asked the members of the Coordination Committee to sit at the Khurshid Memorial Hall (named after Mr Hussain’s mother) during his speech. It is thought that this announcement was made so that the loyal workers of Mr Hussain could keep an eye on the activities of his members. The hall has big rooms and is dominated by the APMSO and Labour division of the party who are very loyal to party chief. Altaf’s control on the party is still very firm and sources said that party activists were of the opinion that no body could take the place of the party chief. Earlier Dr Imran Farooq was in direct contact with the sector in charges but now they are all in direct contact with the party chief or his loyalists.
“UNQUOTE”
“QUOTE”
Aamir Liaquat and Shaheen Sehbai are together nowadays in GEO and think and write on similar pattern but several years ago Shaheen used to write this on Aamir Liaquat.
Image of a Trinity College Degree sample and Dr Aamir’s (Below left) Bachelor’s degree
Musharraf’s Blue Eyed Religious Affairs Minister Turns Out to be Dr. Fake By M A Siddiqui WASHINGTON DC, Mar 9, 2005 ISSN: 1684-2057
KARACHI, March 9: He is the most high profile Parliamentarian of Altaf Hussain’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and is also projecting himself as Altaf Bhai’s successor, should something happen to the MQM leader in London. He is the blue-eyed boy of General Pervez Musharraf as the General telephones him after hearing his dramatic preachings on the TV. He is the most versatile preacher of Islamic values and morals on home TV screens round the clock. He is a prolific speaker and a successful fund-raiser for charities. He is a junior Minister for Religious Affairs in the huge cabinet of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. But in addition to all these qualifications, young, dapper and the stylish member of the National Assembly from Karachi, “Dr.” Aamir Liaquat Hussain, is a fake and a fraud.
In a stunning investigation by Karachi Urdu Daily “Ummat” it has been documented and proved that Dr Aamir purchased fake University degrees to contest the 2002 general election, forced the Karachi University officials to authenticate these degrees in a single day and prevented any investigations by the newspaper to dig deep into the unavailable records at the University. The newspaper, however, persisted with the three-month long probe and was able to obtain the copies of the “University” degrees Dr Aamir used to make himself eligible to contest the election for a National Assembly seat on the MQM ticket from Karachi. He won because of the party ticket and when MQM joined the Musharraf coalition, he was made a junior Minister of Religious Affairs in the cabinet. But his fame came from his TV show on GEO TV “Aalim Online” a religious program in which viewers phone in their questions on Islamic issues and he invites two prominent Islamic scholars every week to answer these personal and social questions. He also hosts other religious programs and General Musharraf and his wife Sehba are so fond of his style of preaching and reciting “Hamds and Naats”, specially during the month of Ramazan, that two years ago Sehba Musharraf called him instantly and told him General Musharraf was crying as he listened to his voice on TV. Dr Aamir did not have a graduate degree in 2002 and according to the investigation he approached a web site in Spain, The Trinity College & University, which boasts about providing Bachelors, Masters or even Doctorate degrees, without attending any class or college. “Everything by Email” the web site of the College says right on top with the big slogan: “Get your degree today.”
Dr Aamir bought his “Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies” degree (Serial No: P-2002227 Dated March 17, 1995), got his “Master of Arts in Islamic Studies” degree (No: P-2002341 Dated March 15, 2002) and his “Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies” degree (No: P-2002528 Dated April 5, 2002). In what may be a world record worthy of the Guinness Book of Records. He got his Doctorate in just three weeks after his Master’s degree, if the documents are to be believed. (see images above) Daily Ummat contacted the Karachi University authorities to find out how these web site Email degrees were authenticated in a single day, in writing, by the then Registrar of Karachi University, Prof. NM Aqil Burney. The Registrar received the application from Dr Aamir on August 24, 2002, days before filing of his nomination papers for the NA election and authenticated his degrees though this letter No PA/2002 Dated August 24, 2002. Click to View the Registrar’s letter of authentication
Prof. Aqil, however, did leave some elbow room by stating in his letter that the authentication was “provisional” and the final decision would be conveyed to the applicant in due course of time. That decision was neither needed nor taken nor conveyed to anyone as Dr Aamir had used the provisional certificate to get himself elected to the Parliament and the matter was forgotten. When the newspaper contacted Prof Aqil later to ask how he could issue the authentication without referring the documents to the Karachi University’s Equivalence Committee, he admitted that Dr Aamir had come to him with degrees from some Spanish University and since these were not degrees issues by his University, he authenticated them on the spot. His answer was unconvincing to say the least. Prof Aqil kept no record of these degrees and when the newspaper contacted the current Registrar to verify whether any such record was kept, no one could trace the file, as none existed.
When the newspaper contacted the Higher Education Commission in Islamabad, the official authority on the matter, to verify whether the Trinity College & University of Spain, which issued the degrees to Dr Aamir, was a recognized institution by Pakistan, Director General Mohammed Javed Khan informed the newspaper vide a letter Dated February 23, 2005 that the Trinity College was not recognized. The letter confirmed the forgery of Dr Aamir and abetment in the forgery by Prof Aqil to facilitate his candidacy in the election. Daily Ummat also obtained copies of the degrees Dr Aamir presented to the Election Commission and during the investigation found that the Trinity College had placed exactly similar samples on its web site, offered the same day for a price. The investigation leaves Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and General Pervez Musharraf in an embarrassing political dilemma. Musharraf has been promoting Dr Aamir as the heir apparent of Altaf Hussain himself and the way his curve was rising was creating serious apprehensions within the MQM circles as well.
For Musharraf it would be a triple disaster in just a few weeks as Dr Aamir would be the third cabinet minister who has been caught literally with his pants down in the middle of the road. His supporter, PPP rebel and currently a minister, Faisal Saleh Hayat, has already been asked by the Prime Minister to resign as his bail application was cancelled by the Supreme Court and National Accountability Bureau has to arrest him for unpaid loans. Many other candidates in the 2002 elections were disqualified because they were defaulters of loans but not Faisal. Interestingly just before the Supreme Court decision to cancel his bail, Faisal Saleh Hayat slipped out of the country and is now residing in London, considering his options whether to return to Pakistan and land in a jail or stay away.
Another serious embarrassment for Musharraf has been the Health Minister in the Punjab Cabinet, Dr Tahir Javed who absconded from Nebraska after causing the worst Hepatitis C outbreak in US history and who had forced his insurance company and the State of Nebraska to pay millions of dollars to his victims who sued him. Now the show boy of Musharraf, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain is in the dock. Scores of seasoned politicians, including former minister Syeda Abida Hussain of Jhang, were either disqualified or did not contest the 2002 polls because they did not have graduate degrees. Now we find that some of those who did, committed a fraud with the law and the people. The biggest embarrassment would, however, be for his GEO TV channel because he hosts a program which is supposed to teach moral values to its viewers. The host has now proved to be an immoral person himself.
Shocking TV interview haunts Dr Aamir Liaquat’s career Daily Times Monitor Daily Times – Site Edition Thursday, May 26, 2005 ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: President Pervez Musharraf’s favourite Islamic TV preacher, the minister of state for religious affairs, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, has finally shot himself, not in the foot but almost in the head, South Asia Tribune reported on Wednesday. “The minister, who was already in trouble over his allegedly fake degrees scandal and his sharp criticism of the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and is being replaced by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), despite all his denials, went on record in a TV interview last week and said Pakistan supported Iraqi insurgent leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi and what he was doing to US forces in Iraq,” it reported. “Aamir said this in an interview to ARY’s famous host, Dr Shahid Masood, on the subject of a fatwa (decree) issued by some Pakistani religious scholars recently, on whether suicide bombing was permissible in Islam. Aamir had been called to discuss the fatwa along with senior Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed,” it said. “The young and inexperienced minister, a loud-mouth who offends listeners, said such ‘truthful’ things about Pakistan’s policy on jihad in Iraq and Kashmir and even so strongly blasted President Musharraf for supporting the US that ARY TV decided not to run the programme on popular talk show Views-on-News,” South Asia Tribune added. Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, who was the other guest on the talk show, was shocked out of his senses when he heard the comments of the minister during the interview. He asked Aamir several times whether he was speaking in his personal capacity or on behalf of the MQM or the Musharraf government. When he was told that he was representing the government’s point of view, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed reportedly could not refrain from making the following remarks: ‘If this is what enlightened moderation of General Musharraf means, who in hell can oppose it. The MMA will fully support the MQM and Musharraf if this is the official policy’,” it said. “The whole show became so ridiculous that ARY decided not to run it, but the tape immediately became a hot potato and was soon in tremendous demand from all interested parties,” South Asia Tribune reported.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed confirmed the story of the censored TV show to South Asia Tribune. It quoted him as saying that he was shortly going to protest to the ARY TV Channel for not running the interview, as the minister had repeatedly said that it was the official government policy. “The minister agreed with all the points that I raised and all the arguments for jihad that I made and concurred that it was jihad being fought by Muslims in Iraq and the Pakistani government supported it. I was so surprised that I told him on record that if this is the meaning of enlightened moderation of General Musharraf, we (the MMA) are with you and kon kambakht mukhalifat kar sakta hay (which Godforsaken soul can oppose it),” it quoted him as saying. “ARY officials in Dubai and Islamabad refused to say why the interview had not been shown but Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said he would be protesting to the channel and urging them to release the tape as it would open the eyes of the world,” South Asia Tribune reported. “When Hafiz Hussain Ahmed started asking questions about the interview, the secret service got wind of what had happened and immediately demands were made from the ARY administration to let the authorities have a copy of the dreaded tape,” it said. “Surprisingly, the London headquarters of the MQM also got wind of what had happened in the interview and Altaf Hussain, who had already summoned Aamir Liaquat Hussain to London, also started looking for a copy of the tape,” it added.
South Asia Tribune quotes US diplomatic sources in Islamabad as telling it that they had heard about the interview and that they would like to hear the tape and what the minister had said about President Musharraf’s policy about suicide attacks by Zarqawi’s men on US forces. It quoted sources as saying later that Pakistani authorities had informed the US diplomats about the contents of the interview and everyone might soon be watching the tape of the interview. “Whether President Musharraf, Altaf Hussain or the US diplomats have received the cassette and heard Dr Aamir’s comments or not is not yet confirmed, but experts in Islamabad said it is only a matter of time that everyone concerned will hear what this outspoken minister had to say and then the chips would fall where they may,” it added. South Asia Tribune quotes sources close to Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, who heard the minister in awe during the interview, as saying that the minister had become emotional while talking about jihad and suicide bombings and was grilled by the host of the programme, Dr Shahid Masood, who almost trapped him into making statements which no politician in such a high political position would make.
It quotes the sources as saying that Aamir had openly criticised President Musharraf for his pro-US policies and had fully supported the jihadis in Iraq, Palestine and Kashmir, but at the same time he had insisted that suicide bombings in Pakistan were against Islam. “‘Anywhere, if there is one American soldier present, suicide bombing is permissible in Islam,’ Dr Aamir was quoted by these sources as having said on record. ‘There are times when the truth must be told,’ he added in one remark,” South Asia Tribune reported. “The minister was the main sponsor when about 50 Pakistani religious leaders issued the fatwa against suicide bombings in Pakistan, which according to some analysts, was done to please President Musharraf. But in his exuberance the minister was caught on the wrong foot when questioned by ARY and Geo TV Channels about such attacks in Iraq and other places,” it added. South Asia Tribune quoted sources in London as saying that MQM Chief Altaf Hussain had already been told by the army to name a replacement for the minister, as he had become too controversial and out-spoken in his remarks and it was difficult to keep him at the cabinet post.
“The London sources also revealed a shocking story about Dr Aamir’s brother, Imran Liaquat Hussain, who studied in Iran and later declared himself an ‘Ayatollah’ opposed to the clerics of Iran,” it said, adding, “Dr Imran was arrested in Iran and later came to Karachi where he took up a fight with MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and declared him ‘an agent of Iran, and a mafia don’. He also issued a fatwa calling for Altaf Hussain’s death and accused the MQM of Wall Street Journal’s journalist Daniel Pearl’s kidnapping and murder.”
“He claimed that the MQM was getting funds from Iran,” South Asia Tribune said.
“In response to his statements in 2002, Altaf Hussain pressured his father, who was also a senior MQM leader to disown his son and Sheikh Liaquat Hussain did exactly that, saying the statements issued by his ‘Ayatollah’ son were stupid, misleading and provocative and he as his father had nothing to do with these views of his son,” it added. “Imran Liaquat Hussain also has a website where he has numerous press clippings of his war against the MQM and its leader Altaf Hussain. He also supported President Musharraf in the 2002 referendum,” it reported.
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Mr Altaf Hussain is the only leader whom people amdire and love more then their life and he is also the only politician who doesn’t like to have any ministry or governorship unlike all others……….so when you analyse what is being happend for sixty three years in our country and who are playing with our votes and feelings then you will realise that what I am trying to explain…….INSHAH ALLAH
Imran Farooq’s murder linked to rows within MQM party- by Farhad Jarral 27 September 2010 http://criticalppp.com/archives/24436
Imran Farooq’s Murder: Altaf may not return to lead the ‘revolution’ By Shiraz Paracha 19 September 2010 http://criticalppp.com/archives/23094
MQM leader Imran Farooq assassinated in London 16 September 2010 http://criticalppp.com/archives/22940
BBC Hard Talk : MQM Muhammad Anwar Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq36z52CwDk
BBC Hard Talk : Part 2 MQM Muhammad Anwar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXF0gCNEidU
Altaf accuses foreign powers of plotting to eliminate him
By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque Monday, 27 Sep, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/altaf-accuses-foreign-powers-of-plotting-to-eliminate-him-790
Mr Hussain said the murder of Dr Imran Farooq was a link in the chain and news analysis and columns published in the international press gave a clear indication about which party and personality were being targeted. He referred to the BBC programme “Hard Talk” in which the host asked coordination committee member Mohammad Anwar why the MQM leader (Mr Hussain) had not been removed.
“This has implications for the situation… what was the purpose of this question?”
Saleem Shahzad expelled from MQM Rabita Committee Saturday, February 14, 2009 [The News and Jang] http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:daTZSTmCaXgJ:www.thenews.com.pk/print3.asp%3Fid%3D20309+aleem+Shahzad+expelled+from+MQM+Rabita+Committee&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has expelled Saleem Shahzad from its Rabita Committee on account of his personal and secret activities and contacts. Besides, MQM activists have been asked not to contact another Rabita Committee member, Muhammad Anwar, on any issue.
According to a press release issued by the MQM on Friday, anyone found contacting Saleem Shahzad would be expelled from the party. Similarly, the MQM activists have been directed instead of contacting Muhammad Anwar they may contact the Rabita Committee in Karachi or the party’s international secretariat. The party took the decision on the basis of Anwar’s suspicious activities and his disinterest in the affairs of the party, the statement said.
Meanwhile, MQM’s senior member and in-charge of its Labour Division Anees Ahmed Khan, advocate, has voluntarily resigned from the basic membership of the MQM, the statement said.
Another MQM statement said on the grounds of serious violation of organisational discipline and involvement in activities outside the organisation, the Rabita Committee had suspended the following activists of the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) for an indefinite period: Ejaz Qureshi and Mohsin Shahab (University of Karachi unit); and Mohsin Ahsanul Haq (NED unit). When contacted, MQM spokesman Faisal Sabazwari offered no comments, saying: “Whatever the MQM has to say in this regard, it has stated in the press release.”
Saleem Shahzad expelled from MQM By Our Staff Reporter
February 14, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/14/nat3.htm
KARACHI, Feb 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement expelled on Friday its senior leader Syed Saleem Shahzad from the party for his alleged ‘mysterious’ activities. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the party’s coordination committee. A statement issued from the MQM’s London secretariat said any party member found in contact with Mr Shahzad would lose his membership.
A former MNA and London-based MQM leader, Anis Ahmed Advocate, resigned from the party and stated that in future he would have nothing to do with the views and actions of the MQM, the statement said. Meanwhile, the MQM directed its workers not to contact Mohammad Anwar, another senior London-based member of the coordination committee.
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