Showing posts with label Altaf Hussain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Altaf Hussain. Show all posts

Altaf Hussain suspends senior party member

Sunday, 6 July 2014


KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) today suspended the membership of a senior party member for mistreating a delegation of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) during Sunday’s rally.

In an emergency meeting held at Jinnah Park immediately after the public rally, MQM’s Rabita Committee unanimously decided to suspend Qamar Mansoor, one of the senior most members, for showing an irresponsible behavior with the PFUJ’s delegation.

It said that Mansoor would remain suspended for an indefinite period.

MQM head Altaf Hussain, while endorsing the committee’s decision, regretted the unfortunate incident.

He later spoke to PFUJ President, General Secretary and other members by phone and apologized for Mansoor’s conduct.

Published in the XReports.net, on July 7th, 2014 | SAMAA
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Blog: The Karachi’s case

Wednesday, 11 June 2014



By Muhammad Sohail | Published in the XReports.net, on June 11th, 2014

Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 25 million people as of April 2014. Karachi is the most populous city in the country and the world’s 3rd largest city in terms of population by city. When Pakistan was declared as a separate country in 1947, Karachi was chosen as the capital of the state. During this period, the city offered shelter to a huge influx of migrants and refugees that came from the Indian province. In 1960, the capital of Pakistan was first moved to Rawalpindi and then to Islamabad. Still Karachi never lost its importance as the economic centre of Pakistan.

The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants and refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins who have largely come to settle here permanently. It is locally termed as the City of Lights for its liveliness and the City of The Quaid, for not only being both the birth and death place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan but also his home after 1947. Residents and those born in the city are called “Karachiites”. Since last 30 years Karachi is also known as the strong hold city of Muttahida Qaumi Movement — MQM.

When look into the historical data of elections since 1988 it justifies the statement that Karachi is the citadel of MQM. When MQM representatives took part in the 1998 General Elections for the first time; they had contested as independent candidates. Since then the party has bagged the lion's share of National Assembly seats from this city. In the most recent elections, the party won no fewer than 17 out of 20 National Assembly seats from Karachi which is 85 %. So the party who enjoys almost 90 percent of the city mandate is always blamed for the all unrest conditions in the city but when someone asks about the administration of the city given to them or not by the government so the answer comes in big No. Not only administration but worst part is that even as a major stakeholder or virtual owners of the city they were never taken in confidence and similarly never taken the advice from them. Like the history of election results there was a time when Interior Ministry was in the hands of real owners of Karachi and during that time crime , unrest and terrorism in the city was all time low due to efficient policies and due to the feeling of ownership of hometown not like the expeditionary forces who owns nothing and they don't have anything on stake.

Recently we have observed that when every effort is failed to suppress the real owners of Karachi by targeted killings , extra-judicial killings , fake cases and even letting terrorists settle in Karachi a new approach is taken and that is to tease the people of Karachi by putting fake allegations and enforcing pressure locally and internationally by baseless conspiracies on its leadership. Everyone who follows the true representation of Karachi and the Urban Sindh i-e MQM knows that it is all done to break the follower-ship of Mr. Altaf Hussain which was practiced since many years without any success. Story didn't stopped here, people of urban Sindh also heard the pathetic formula of minus one (which failed also). Now out of nowhere they brought another method of teasing people by enforcing hurdles in the making of ID card and passport of Mr. Hussain, here most humiliating part for the Pakistan is that, this issue is causing disgrace for the country who is letting people think that the database of Pakistani people is erased or destroyed. Just to generate problems for Mr. Hussain NADRA and Interior Ministry are saying that due to undisclosed reasons data has been erased and that is why its causing difficulty in providing both NICOP and passport which is the constitutional right of Mr. Hussain. Here did they ever thought that what rest of the world considering this issue, they must be thinking that if data base is erased or re-entered so it's very easy for terrorists from abroad to take safe hideout in Pakistan.

In the current situation MQM announced to hold a Solidarity Rally with Mr. Altaf Hussain on 25th May 2014 in Karachi not to prove that people are with Mr. Hussain but to show rest of the world and the Government that this is the NICOP and Passport of a person who rules the hearts of millions of people and due to any means you want verification these millions of people are his verification and if you want to know the identification mark so these are the millions of people and their hearts which are marked with Mr. Altaf Hussain's love. Mr. Altaf and his followers don't want to prove each other that they are united they are just showing the world and the government of Pakistan that here is the real owner of the city.

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The XReports.


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Is Altaf Hussain returning to rescue Musharraf?

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

اسلام آباد: غداری کیس میں پرویز مشرف کے وکیل اور ایم کیو ایم کے سینیٹر بیرسٹر فروغ نسیم کا کہنا ہے کہ انہیں اس بات کا کوئی علم نہیں کہ الطاف حسین سابق صدر کو بچانے پاکستان آرہے ہیں۔
سنگین غداری کیس کی سماعت کے بعد میڈیا سے بات کرتے ہوئے بیرسٹر فروغ نسیم کا کہنا تھا کہ ایم کیو ایم کے قائد الطاف حسین پاکستان سے دور رہ کر بھی وطن سے محبت کرتے ہیں، ان کے پاکستان آنے کا علم نہیں اور انہیں یہ بھی نہیں معلوم کہ الطاف حسین پرویز مشرف کو بچانے پاکستان آرہے ہیں، اگر انہوں نے وطن واپس آنے کا فیصلہ کیا تو کارکن سیکیورٹی کی بنا پر نہ آنے کا مشورہ دیں گے۔
فروغ نسیم نے کہا کہ سنگین غداری کیس میں دلائل کے دوران اکرم شیخ کو الطاف حسین سے متعلق بات  نہیں کرنی چاہیئے تھی، الطاف حسین تو اکرم شیخ سے متعلق اچھے جذبات رکھتے ہیں، اگلی سماعت کے دوران اپنی باری پر وہ الطاف حسین کا نام لینے پر ضرور بات کریں گے۔
Published in the XReports.net, on April 16th, 2014 | Express
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Afaq Ahmed likely to tie-up with Muttahida Qaumi Movement

Friday, 21 February 2014


Twisting reports are surfacing that Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) head — Afaq Ahmed is all set to tie-up with Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The news agency of private TV network has claimed that Haqiqi’s Afaq is likely to join MQM (formerly known as, Mohajir Qaumi Movement). The host, Kamran Shahid disclosed that Mr Ahmed has submitted his pardon application to Altaf Hussain at London secretariat.


MQM’s representative, Faisal Subzwari mentioned that he has no sufficient information regarding joining of Afaq. Further he hinted that the politics of MQM is not based on rigidity, and personal enmity like feudal mindsets.


Afaq’s prime companion, Amir Khan has already tied a knot with Muttahida Qaumi Movement after granting his pardon.


Vice chairman Shamshad Ghauri had announced in 2012, “The Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-H) is ready to sit down with its archrival, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), if the need arises”.


In 2013, The XReports.net had already reported — ‘Afaq contacts Altaf’.




Published in The XReports.net, on February 21st, 2014
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Blog: What is Owen Bennett-Jones interest in Pakistan?

Sunday, 2 February 2014

By Danish Kazi | 03-02-2014
Owen Bennett Jones is a free lance journalist who hosts one of the programs in a global media channel. If you check is profile. His main contribution to the literary community is his book “Pakistan : Eye of the Storm” . A book touching on the serge of Talibanization in the country written in 2002-3 followed by new editions over years. Also, if you see he has been showing keen interest all these years in the affairs of the country. Interesting to be in case you are a foreign journalist.

He is seen as pointing fingers against Pakistan Army for the many issues faced in Pakistan. So much so in one of his books . He correlates our Army to Lord Shiva seen as the sustainer as well as a destroyer of Pakistan. He was seen actively accusing ISI post Osama Bin Laden’s episode. But though he has been so much actively keeping an eye on the country. His claim to fame came once he started accusing MQM for the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq who was one of the founding members of the party.

Initially, I just ignored his overtures against MQM knowing that he is a free lance journalist and not necessarily represents the view of the media channel who ran the documentary against MQM last year and that may be some of his friends in the Pakistani media who would like to put pressure on MQM to withdraw from the PPP government would have done so since may be they would like to play behind the scenes . Also, possibly he may be good friends with our Tsunami Bhabi i.e. Jemima Khan and though she is no more married to Imran Khan but bearing his two sons still feels she has a right to interfere in the Pakistani government. It looks like the populist evening newspaper style reporting that he has done in the video doubts me to believe that such a channel would be behind such a low quality produced video; having ardently myself following it for many years but I am sure they had to give in to him for some reasons which maybe contractual or otherwise.

But what made me sit and do more desk research on the gentlemen was the coincidence of his new documentary which he stated as part 2 against MQM and its leadership right at the time when peace negotiations got kicked off with Taliban and MQM is seen as the only party voicing its concerns with the same. The strategy to distract MQM so that instead of charging against such negotiations. They are left with defending their own reputation. Our proud Pakistan Army who has given thousands of lives in sustaining Pakistan’s strata for the people of Pakistan in line with the vision of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had only one party seemingly on their side opposing negotiations and that was MQM as the rest out of reasons known to them only submitted to the same surprisingly PPP who came into power only when Benazir Bhutto was killed by Taliban. As per reports in the media . I am sure the army which was purportedly ready for action and being a major stakeholder seen quiet on the issue till now must have been taken aback. So it looks like that the new offensive against MQM was timed in concurrence to those in tune with the negotiations at the top be done.

Recently , Mr. Jones wrote a piece a few days ago and reportedly stated and confirmed that he was in contacts with people who are close to Taliban and discussed at length the implications of the drone strikes in the province of KPK. A leading local Pakistani newspaper carried the story. Now if you think of it the news piece was published in sync with at the same time when PTI was kick starting their anti drone campaign . I am sure Mr. Jones had nothing to do with the same and it was just an innocent coincidence. I am also very much surprised to see that as per his claims he has links to Taliban which I am sure is only for his professional purposes.

But as we all know that there is nothing like a free lunch in the world. The question is what Mr. Jones had to pay in return for getting important news from the other side. Also, it makes me wonder what has been the reason for Mr. Jones for interfering in Pakistan and his only book as I can find on the web makes me think that unless he was born here which he was not. Unless he had a daughter or son in law from here which isn’t . What other reason he could have in interfering in Pakistan’s domestic political issues instead of hitting on Pakistan’s recent policy stand on Taliban though he had been very vocal about it?

I sometimes wonder. Does he really understand what role Dr. Imran Farooq played during the 90’s operation? Why was he under hiding and where he has been hiding? I am sure he would have researched on that . Further, he wants to make me believe that Altaf Hussein knowingly his situation where he is at the blade of the sword for much trivial issues would be naive enough to take a shot at Dr. Imran Farooq and that too a day before his birthday . He wants me to believe that knowing that Scotland Yard is a tough agency who has cracked much more difficult cases and that too against Al Qaeda and their likes. Any one would be insane enough to deliver such a deadly attack in the heart of Britain though whatever could have been the political rivalry if there was any. Further, Mr. Jones wants me to believe that Scot Land Yard who has solved many grave murder mysteries have not been able to solve this one all these years. The proof is that Mr. Hussein has not been formally charged or even referred to in this case. I wonder who gave the right to Mr. Jones to accuse anyone of a murder when the judicial system is yet to do the same. Many questions like this come to my mind and that of many if you think progressively and without bias.

So all it makes me believe that the recent attack on MQM and Altaf Hussein right at the outset of the negotiations with Taliban and drawing parallel to the above proximity to the anti MQM elements in the country who want to wash their dirty linen abroad. Maybe he had to write it to please his friends who have been giving him intelligence on Pakistan all these years as definitely he is not a friend of Pakistan as well; as he has been accusing ISI on having links to Al Qaeda and Mumbai attacks etc. Maybe it could be that his friends in Taliban camp would have asked him as a strategy to release this video to distract MQM so that they pursue their course of insanity. In that case , I wonder what does he get in return. I am sure it does not come for free.

My view on this is simple. PTI who has strong friends abroad is behind this smear campaign as they try to kill two birds with one stone. One maligning MQM and Two pursuing with the desire of negotiating with Taliban as per their election promises. I am sure what ever the case its not in the interest of Pakistan. As for Mr. Jones who was a lesser known brand name in Pakistan is more known now. I am sure he is biased as he has not done his journalistic home work in detail otherwise he could have understood the motive well behind the Dr. Imran Farooq murder and who benefited the most from it. Its definitely not MQM and Altaf Hussein from any angles. I am sure had he researched the history and the recent past . He could have ascertained. I am sure he is hanging to his ego as I am sure at this day and age . He cannot go back on his story and loose his credibility and may be his job. What I am confused with is that why is he aligning with the same mindset in Pakistan against MQM who has been an ally in the war against terror? Why is he allying with those like TTP and Co who have killed UK’s sons and daughters during 7/7 and in Afghanistan.

I am sure he has chosen a price which we would all soon know or may be its part of a blanket deal and hitting MQM is an agenda knowing the animosity which TTP has against MQM knowing that it’s the only party standing between them and absolute route in the country and especially Karachi. I hope logic would prevail. I hope the drama of negotiation would end. I hope Mr. Jones gets his price and I hope he fails in his effort to derail Pakistan . Pakistan Zindabad!

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The XReports.

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MQM leader writes letter to British PM regarding London case

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

02-01-2014 | TN
Rauf Siddiqui writes letter to British PM Cameron, condemns media trial against Altaf

KARACHI: Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leader Rauf Siddiqui has written a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron and Scotland Yard, condemning media trial and negative propaganda against Altaf Hussain.

In the letter, Rauf Siddiqui asked British PM Cameron that why their leader Altaf Hussain was being mentally tortured despite the fact there was no case against him.

He said they were fully cooperating with the British police in investigation in Imran Farooq murder case.

Rauf Siddiqui questioned why the MQM leaders houses were being raided despite cooperation.
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Altaf Hussain contacts his arch-rival Lord Nazir - Media reports

Friday, 2 August 2013

03-08-2013
MQM supremo, Altaf Hussain, has contacted Britian’s member of House of Lords, Lord Nazir Ahmed and has asked him to sit together with MQM.

When contacted about this, Lord Nazir said that he had said to Altaf Hussain that he is ready to sit together with MQM if politics of violence is curbed in Karachi.


Click picture to enlarge
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MQM working for UK intelligence in Karachi: Guardian’s report

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

31-07-2013 | Courtesy: The Nation
The sole reason for allowing MQM Chief Altaf Hussain to live permanently in Britain and ignoring his activities in London is the cooperation that MQM provides to British intelligence agencies, claimed a report published in Guardian.

It has further been claimed in the report that Karachi is, perhaps, the only city of the world where the US has assigned Britain the lead intelligence role.

According to Guardian, the US Consulate in Karachi does not undertake active intelligence and has assigned this task to Britain. And MQM is the greatest asset to Britain as far as Karachi intelligence is concerned.

The report further claims that having secret information and intelligence from Karachi is not a difficult thing for the British who know that they have a person into their country whose representatives are also present in Pakistan’s federal cabinet.
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BBC’s report on MQM publishes in Guardian

Monday, 29 July 2013

29-07-2013 | Courtesy: Guardian


Altaf Hussain lives in London but leads Pakistan's powerful, controversial MQM party, which has millions of supporters. He has also been acccused of inciting murder and violence in his home country.

Pakistan's most vibrant, vivacious and popular 24-hour news channel, Geo TV, generally has little difficulty recruiting staff. Its headquarters are in Karachi, Pakistan's so called "city of dreams" – a massive, sprawling conurbation with 20 million residents seeking a better life. And yet there was one vacancy recently that Geo TV could not fill. The channel wanted a lookalike for its popular satirical show, in which actors play the parts of the country's leading politicians. It was a job offering instant stardom and good money. And not a single person in Karachi was willing to do it.


The man Geo TV sought to satirise was Altaf Hussain, the leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). And the reason no one applied was the fear that if Altaf Hussain were unamused by the performance, the actor playing him would be murdered.


Anxiety about the MQM is not restricted to Pakistan. One member of the British House of Lords who has been openly critical of the MQM recently said: "If I went to Karachi now I would be killed." Another peer has similar worries: "This is one issue I don't ask questions on. I have my child to worry about."


The man who has everyone looking over his or her shoulder does not even live in Karachi. For more than 20 years, Altaf Hussain has operated from the north London suburb of Edgware, beyond the reach of Pakistani prosecutors. He is almost completely unknown in the UK: his four-million-plus devoted supporters live thousands of miles away.


It's difficult to know how many murder cases have been registered against Altaf Hussain, but perhaps the most authoritative number was released in 2009 when the then Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf implemented his National Reconciliation Order, granting most of the country's senior politicians an amnesty. One of the biggest beneficiaries was Hussain, against 72 cases were dropped, including 31 allegations of murder. The MQM rejects all the murder charges lodged against Hussain.


When Pakistan was created in 1947 it had a population of 70 million. As well as the Bengalis in East Pakistan (who split away to form Bangladesh in 1971) there were four main indigenous groups: the Sindhis, the Baloch, the Pashtuns and the Punjabis. Partition brought a new element: Muslims who had fled Hindu-majority India. They were called the Mohajirs and most settled in Karachi, which was then the capital of Pakistan. This is the group represented by the Mohajir Qaumi Movement or, as it's now named, the Muttahida (United) Qaumi Movement or MQM.


At first the Mohajirs fared well. As many had spearheaded the campaign to create the country, they slipped naturally into leadership positions. But their disproportionate influence could never last. By the 70s a political backlash, especially from Punjabis and Sindhis, was in full swing and many Mohajirs found themselves unable to secure jobs or even places in schools and universities. For a group that thought it had the right to govern, it came as a heavy blow. And the first man to exploit the Mohajirs' sense of grievance was Hussain.


In 1988 MQM candidates broke through, and suddenly the party was the third largest in the National Assembly and has dominated Karachi politics ever since. Hussain has periodically flirted with demands for some kind of territorial settlement: "When everyone else had a province," he said in March 1984, "we said the Mohajirs should have one too." But for the most part he has accepted that such a demand is plainly unacceptable to the rest of Pakistan and has restricted himself to demands for greater Mohajir rights within the existing national framework.

Altaf Hussain with his British passport, granted in 2002.
The MQM's most vocal critic today is cricketer-turned-playboy-turned-Islamist-politician Imran Khan. In 2007, portraying himself as the man who dared to confront even the most entrenched political interests, Khan paid a visit to the Metropolitan police in London to hand over, he claimed, evidence of Hussain's wrongdoing. Apparently unimpressed with the quality of that evidence, the police did not bring any charges and Khan let the issue drop. But in May this year when one of his best-known party activists in Karachi, Zahra Shahid Hussain, was shot down outside her home, Khan openly accused the MQM of her murder. Thousands of his social media-savvy supporters were encouraged to complain to the British police. More than 12,000 did so and the police responded by, for the first time, formally investigating Altaf Hussain's London activities.

There are a number of strands to the Met's inquiries. First there is the issue of whether the MQM leader is using his London base to incite violence in Pakistan. In assessing that, the police have a huge amount of material to sift through, much of it online. At his birthday party in 2009, for example, he regaled his guests with a remark aimed at Pakistan's rich landowners and businessmen: "You've made big allegations against the MQM. If you make those allegations to my face one more time you'll be taking down your measurements and we'll prepare your body bags."


Because he is in London, Hussain addresses rallies in Karachi over the telephone. Crowds gather to listen to his voice through loudspeakers. In one such speech he had this message for TV anchors: "If you don't stop the lies and false allegations that damage our party's reputation, then don't blame me, Altaf Hussain, or the MQM if you get killed by any of my millions of supporters."


Most of his threats have been aimed at people in Pakistan but at least one was directed at the UK journalist Azhar Javaid who asked a question once too often. At a press conference in September 2011 Hussain warned Javaid that his "body bag was ready".


Adressing those whom he accused of denying the Mohajirs their rights, in December 2012, Hussain ranted: "If your father won't give us freedom just listen to this sentence carefully: then we will tear open your father's abdomen. To get our freedom we will not only tear it out of your father's abdomen but yours as well."


Partly because of the difficulty of establishing unchallengeable translations of Hussain's words, it might be months before the police decide whether to recommend a prosecution. In the meantime there is talk of a private prosecution. Long-time MQM critic George Galloway MP recently set up a fund to pay the legal fees of such an initiative.


On two occasions British judges have found that the MQM is a violent organisation. In 2010 a Karachi-based police officer sought asylum in the UK claiming the MQM was threatening to kill him in revenge for his having registered a case against one of its members. The judge, Lord Bannatyne, granted asylum and in his judgment accepted that: "the MQM has killed over 200 police officers who stood up to them in Karachi".


The figure is often cited by the Karachi police themselves, and refers to those officers who were closely involved in Benazir Bhutto's anti-MQM crackdown, Operation Clean-up. It came in 1995, during Bhutto's second government. Unable to rely on the slow, intimidated and corrupt courts, which were always nervous to convict MQM defendants, the security forces resorted to hundreds if not thousands of extrajudicial killings of MQM activists. Many of the police officers responsible have subsequently been murdered. MQM, however, refutes any allegations of inciting violence from London.

When asked about these allegations, MQM issued the following statement to the Guardian: "We'd also like to point out here that it is the MQM that has been the worst victim of violence in recent history of the country. The Taliban and other jihadi elements have killed scores of MQM members … "

As well as the incitement investigation, the British police are currently running another MQM-related inquiry. It concerns the September 2010 murder of a senior MQM member, Imran Farooq, who was stabbed to death outside his flat in Green Lane, Edgware. For the UK authorities, his murder crossed a red line. London is open to outsiders – but they have to leave their violent politics back home.


The Counter Terrorism Command have launched a massive and sustained investigation into Farooq's death. In December last year they raided the MQM's Edgware offices where they found substantial thousands of documents. Since most of the material is in Urdu and some, from MQM lawyers, is subject to client privilege, assessing it is extremely time-consuming. But with 12 officers working on the case full-time and a whole range of specialists available to carry out specific tasks when needed, the police are still showing real determination to trace Farooq's killer.


In its statement to the Guardian, the MQM said: "MQM understands that as part of that ongoing investigation, the Metropolitan police have interviewed several hundred people. MQM has assisted the ongoing police investigation whenever it has been requested to do so. A number of MQM party members have also voluntarily offered to be witnesses to assist the ongoing police investigation. Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM's party leader, has not been arrested nor charged with any criminal offence. The police are treating Mr Hussain as one of a large number of potential witnesses in their investigation and not as a suspect."


Right from the start the police raids in the investigation have produced rich material. Shortly after the 2010 murder the police found a significant number of papers stashed in Farooq's home. Some of the documents gave credence to the confessions made by a number of suspected MQM militants in Karachi. Repeatedly, MQM activists there had told the Pakistani authorities they were trained in India. Asked on numerous occasions over a period of several weeks about its relationship with the MQM, Indian government officials have failed to make any statement on the matter. Recent police raids have turned up £150,000 at the party's Edgware's offices and £250,000 at Hussain's house in Mill Hill.


The police say they are making significant progress in the Farooq murder case and have an ever-clearer understanding of what they believe was a conspiracy to kill him. Their investigation, however, is complicated by the fact that the MQM has supporters deep within the Pakistani state who want to protect it, and more cynical actors such as Pakistan's main intelligence agency, the ISI, which want to control it.


However, the recent elections in Pakistan have left the MQM politically weaker and there is a distinct possibility that the government of Nawaz Sharif will be less protective of the MQM than the last administration.


Aware that Farooq's killer or killers may be thousands of miles away and, the British Police believe, back in Pakistan, the UK investigation has focused on who might have ordered the murder. Having promised full co-operation with the British authorities Hussain has also complained that he is the subject of a witch-hunt and a conspiracy.


Recent British police actions have included the arrest (he is now bailed until September) of Altaf Hussain's nephew, Ishtiaq Hussain. The police won't divulge why he was arrested. Intriguingly, Altaf Hussain also let slip that he himself and MQM were being investigated for money laundering. This is now one of the most active elements of the British police's work. The question is: where does all the money seized in the raids and that used to buy the MQM's extensive UK property portfolio come from? In the statement to the Guardian, the MQM deny the laundering allegations.


"It is reiterated here that the party, its leader Mr Altaf Hussain or any other member of the Party has never dealt with any money that is the proceeds of crime. MQM's legal team has already submitted effective answers to questions concerning the cash seized from the party's office, whereas legal responses would be submitted shortly concerning the cash seized from Mr Altaf Hussain's residence."


With a condescension that is increasingly grating to the Pakistani public, Washington and London produce a regular flow of statements expressing concern about various Pakistani human rights abuses. But the whole issue of human rights monitoring is suffused with double standards. The abuses listed by the US and the UK are in fact little more than diplomatic ammunition held in reserve and deployed should the need arise.


The UK itself has questions to answer. It has resisted repeated Pakistani requests to hand over Hussain so that he can stand trial for murder in Pakistan. Hussain arrived in London in February 1992 and just three years later, Benazir Bhutto – then prime minister – was asking for London's help. "I think the British government has a moral responsibility to restrain Mr Altaf Hussain and say you cannot use our soil for violence," she said. Eighteen years later, Imran Khan's appeal was strikingly similar: "I blame the British government. Would they allow someone to sit in Pakistan and threaten people in the UK? They know about his track record."

If Hussain were a suspected London-based jihadi, many Pakistanis believe, he would have been arrested years ago.

Pakistanis point to other instances where they believe the UK has favoured Hussain. In 2002 he was issued with a UK passport. Off the record, British officials admit that the process by which he obtained nationality was flawed – a decision in January 1999 to grant him indefinite leave to remain in the UK was made as a result of a "clerical error". Despite repeated questions, the Home Office has refused to disclose what that error was.


Most Pakistanis dismiss the idea of a clerical error as risible. They point to a letter No 10 received from Hussain as evidence of how the UK and the MQM have tried to conceal the true nature of their relationship. Written just two weeks after 9/11, in it Hussain says that if the UK wanted hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of Karachi denouncing terrorism he could lay that on with just five days' notice. He claimed he could also organise human intelligence on the Taliban and could set up a network of fake aid workers in Afghanistan to back up Western intelligence gathering efforts there.


After a copy of the letter appeared on the internet, the MQM denied its authenticity. Disclosures under the Freedom of Information Act have established that the letter is in fact authentic. Faced with that information, the Foreign Office admitted it had received the letter.


As Hussain suggests in the letter, British interest in the MQM is largely driven by the perception that the party offers a defence against jihadis. But there is more to it than that. The MQM is British turf: Karachi is one of the few places left on earth in which the Americans let Britain take the lead. The US consulate in Karachi no longer runs active intelligence gathering operations in the city. The British still do. When it comes to claiming a place at the top table of international security politics – London's relationship with the MQM is a remaining toehold.


And there's something else. The FCO's most important currency is influence. Successive Pakistani governments, when they are not demanding Hussain's extradition, have included his parliamentary bloc in various coalition governments. From the FCO's point of view, it's a great source of access. Right on their doorstep, in London, they have a man with ministers in the Pakistani government.


For its part the UK government insists there is nothing unusual about its contacts with MQM and that its meetings with MQM officials are: "a normal part of diplomatic activity around the world". I spoke to a British official recently about the MQM and asked why the UK government, so keen to declare its commitment to human rights, seemed so willing to deal with the party despite officials privately saying that it uses violence to achieve its goals. She said: "There is one thing I can assure you of – it's not a conspiracy." Which in a sense is true. It's not a conspiracy. It's just policy.


Owen Bennett-Jones is the author of Target Britain
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Twist in Karachi's politics: Afaq contacts Altaf

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

16-07-2013
Lahore: The head of Mohajir Qoumi Movement (Haqiqi), Afaq Ahmed has agreed to adopt soft attitude towards Altaf Hussain's MQM on the appeal of Elders' committee (Haqiqi).

According to the confirmed sources, after the transition in the politics of Mohajirs, Elders' committee of Haqiqi has appealed their chief Afaq Ahmed to adopt a soft approach towards its another Mohajir arch-rival Altaf Hussain. The committee has advised Afaq, after the enormous pressure on Mohajirs', to mend ties with Altaf.

The committee has told Afaq that Mohajir forces have to unite and stop the cleansing of Mohajir-youth for the greater cause of Mohajir nation.

According to the report, few members of the committee have also sent the fax to Altaf Hussain in London. They have written in the fax that Mohajirs should reunite and sort out their differences via dialogue. Sources have claimed that the fax has been received in London secretariat.


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Luqman provoked Altaf Hussain against Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad

Monday, 15 July 2013

15-07-2013
Mubasher Luqman, who was pretty fond of MQM's politics some time back, seems to be in trouble now.

Mubasher had a rapport with MQM's leadership and often had telephone talks and personal meetings with them. It seems that the conversations that Mubasher held with MQM supremo, Mr Altaf Hussain, were recorded or filmed by MQM and are available to Scotland Yard for investigations. It seems that Scotland Yard also found something against Mr Luqman in those tapes.

The tweets from Luqman and Mr Saqlain Imam, A BBC journalist, have also revealed that Luqman provoked Mr Hussain against Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad, Governor Sindh, on some issues.

The screenshots of the tweets can be seen below.


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400,000 pounds found from MQM office, Altaf residence: BBC

Thursday, 11 July 2013

12-07-2013 | Courtesy The News
LONDON: The British Broadcasting Corporation has claimed that 0.4 million pounds were found by London police in raids at the office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Altaf Hussain’s residence on December 06, 2012 and June 18, 2013.

The claims have been made in a program aired on BBC Two.
Meanwhile, MQM’s deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar talking to BBC Two admitted that the London police had seized some amount of money during the raids, however, he added that he was not aware of the exact figure.

Sattar said that MQM was not involved in money laundering. He alleged that the BBC’s documentary on Altaf Hussain was influenced by pro-Taliban elements.

He further stated that no threatening statements were issued from London to trigger violence in Pakistan.
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In Orangi, a 100-year-old diehard fan of two Quaids

Sunday, 5 May 2013

05-05-2013 | The News
Karachi: A few months short of his 100th birthday, Aseeruddin Ahmed, makes a fraction of the 0.225 percent of Pakistani voters, who have lived for more than 91 years.

Clad in a white kurta and a chequered dhoti, he holds in his right hand a walking stick, which, when it does not support his frail body, is used to hit anyone who speaks against Mohammad Ali Jinnah or Altaf Hussain – the two Quaids he refuses to hear ill of.

“Till my last breath,” he vows, “I will vote for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.”

Such is his loyalty toward the party that he still remembers the number plate of Hussain’s motorcycle (KAJ-161), on which the MQM chief came to Orangi Town.

“Bhai would sit on the floor with us and hold meetings,” Ahmed recalls. “Those were the good days, filled with hope.”

In his neighbourhood, where he has lived most of his life, people lovingly call him Chacha. And though he cannot walk around the streets anymore, his grandsons also find it impossible to move around with him in a car because passersby keep stopping them, to invite their beloved Chacha for a cup of tea.

Till the last elections in 2008, his health allowed him to walk door to door in Orangi Town to motivate the people to come out and vote but wisely “for the person who gave you your identity” he would hint.

He struggles to remember the infamous Operation Cleanup against the MQM in the 90s that forced many of the party leaders to escape but then drifts off to the days before partition.

An employee at the British Railways, Ahmed was 35 at the time of Partition. “I remember filling a form, writing I am a Muslim and in favour of Pakistan,” he recalls.

Back then, he lived in Saidpur, where the largest railway workshop for Assam-Bengal province was established by the British. After Partition, Saidpur came under East Pakistan – now Bangladesh. Ahmed remembers the massive bloodshed forced the Hindus to flee to the Indian border while the Muslims migrated to the other side of the border. “But there was hope. We were ready to sacrifice everything for the homeland our leaders had carved out for us.”

Not yet had the emotions of living in a Muslim homeland fizzled away, when there was the second partition, as Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan.

Every now and then, Chacha brings up a town called Munger in his conversation. His son explains Munger was mainly an Urdu-speaking town of Bihar, India. When Bangladesh was created, the Urdu-speaking community there fled to East Pakistan fearing for their lives in communal violence.

Ahmed became a migrant for the second time. He landed in Quetta. Much later, in 1974, he arrived in Karachi and made it his permanent residence. But if there is anything that he winds up after all his struggles, it is the fact that he had lost two homes. “We were two nations before Partition based on the two-nation theory. Then we became three when Bangladesh was carved out. Now four or five nations inhabit Pakistan. There will be more partitions,” Ahmed warns.
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Afaq blames ‘Altaf Hussain serving foreign agenda’

Sunday, 14 April 2013

15-04-2013 | The News
LAHORE: Chairman Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) Afaq Ahmed Sunday alleged that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain was working on a foreign agenda.

Talking to media persons here at Allama Iqbal Airport, Afaq Ahmed said his party was taking part in the upcoming general elections with an aim to loosen the grip of Altaf Hussain’s fear on the city.

“We will subject Altaf Hussain to accountability through ballot,” he said, accusing the MQM Chief of attempting to cause Karachi’s economic devastation.

He said he has been in contact with other political parties but added that no seat-adjustment has been made anyone.
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Can Altaf Bhai speak against Jews in the UK?

Saturday, 6 April 2013

06-04-2013 | The News
ISLAMABAD: Sorry Mr Altaf Hussain, and sorry the wayward and confused media! Your humiliating criticism of the Returning Officers’ questions, being asked from the candidates, reflects your bias instead of presenting the facts to the people of Pakistan.

All the hullabaloo is focused on the questions being asked about the basic knowledge of Islam and the Islamic teachings. Has anyone the right to say why do the Returning Officers ask these questions? The answer is — it is the demand of the 1973 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The media generally ignores this constitutional fact and Altaf Bhai also seems to be not interested in referring to it, which in its Article 62(1)(e) says: “(1) A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless — (e) he has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practices obligatory duties prescribed by Islam as well as abstains from major sins.”

Some may feel shame about the Islamic scheme of the Constitution of Pakistan but this fundamental legal framework of the country does require from the Muslim parliamentarians that they should have “adequate knowledge” of Islam and Islamic teachings.

The Returning Officers are bound by the law and the Constitution to judge every candidate on the basis of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. You can’t conduct a written exam of such candidates to see if they are well versed with the Islamic teachings but by asking a few simple questions about Islam and Islamic teachings the Returning Officers can judge whether or not the candidates, who want to lead the people of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, have minimum knowledge of Islam.

Though the media is making mountain out of molehill, such questions are routinely asked in the most prized competitive examinations/interviews for the Central Superior Services and from military’s commissioned officers.

Most importantly, all the questions being asked are very simple and relate to the basic teachings of Islam. Most of these questions could be answered even by an ordinary school child — such as the total RAKAT of five prayers; the total chapters/PARAS of the Holy Quran and the dua’as (prayers), which are part of the daily Namaz etc.

Questions regarding number of wives become relevant as our leading politicians, as per media reports, have more than one undisclosed marriage. The questions about the behaviour of husband with his more than one wives would show how justly and fairly the person who intends to become the lawmaker of the country deals with his wives. Islam allows more than one marriage with the strict condition that the man should be just, fair and unbiased in his relationship with the wives.

Some people claim that Articles 62 and 63 should also be applied to judges, journalists and bureaucrats. The Constitution, however, invokes these articles only in case of members of parliament.

It is also being projected by some quarters that personal questions should not be asked from a candidate. But when a person jumps into the election fray, it is right of the people to ask questions about his public and private life. This right is enjoyed and exercised by the people of the United States. There is a difference between the personal life of an ordinary person and a leader. People used to follow their leaders whose life must be ideal. Those who want that no questions should be raised about their personal lives should not aspire to lead the people.

In the case of Ayaz Amir’s disqualification, the liberal voices in the media appear to have greatly influenced Altaf Hussain. The MQM claims to do home work while issuing any policy statement but Altaf Hussain sounds oblivious of the Constitutional demand that a person is qualified to become member of Parliament if, according to 62(1)(g), “he has not, after the establishment of Pakistan, worked against the integrity of the country or opposed the ideology of Pakistan.”

The nomination paper also contains a mandatory oath by every candidate that unambiguously says: “I will strive to preserve the Islamic Ideology which is the basis for the creation of Pakistan.” May I dare to ask Altaf Bhai how a person, who opposes the Islamic ideology and strives for secular Pakistan could become member of the Parliament in the presence of Article 62(1)(g)?

Altaf Hussain, whose party propagates secular vision for Pakistan, also ignored the “Objectives Resolution” and other Islamic articles of the Constitution like Articles 2, 31 etc which leave no space for Pakistan to become a secular state. Islamic Ideology can’t be detached from Pakistan and its constitution unless the secular minority of the country chooses to go the masses with the slogan of changing the Islamic basis of Pakistan and its constitution to a secular country and secular constitution, wins 2/3rd majority in the Constituent Assembly and then alters the Islamic provisions of the present constitution.

It may disappoint some opponents of Islamic scheme of the Constitution but they need to be educated by this very fact that Islamic provisions in this basic legal framework of the country are safeguarded as one of the five basic features of the constitution. These features can’t be amended even by a two-third majority but by the Constituent Assembly elected for the same purpose.

It may also hurt some but the present constitution of Pakistan does not appreciate any secular vision for Pakistan. Instead such thoughts are blocked from entering into Parliament as the authors of the Constitution and the Objectives Resolution, adopted by the very first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan soon after the creation of Pakistan, knew that any effort to separate Islam from Pakistan would mean destruction of Pakistan.

Living in London for many years now, Altaf Bhai despite being a British national can’t utter a word against Jews. If he does so, he would face legal and criminal proceedings. Only recently Lord Nazir was proceeded against just because he had uttered what in Pakistan could be considered an ordinary remark about any other community.

In the west, you can’t oppose the holocaust. Altaf Bhai and no liberal from Pakistan can do that. However, in Pakistan you can oppose the Islamic Ideology of the country and yet become a parliamentarian. Constitution and law here become irrelevant because they do not suit us.


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MQM supremo Altaf Hussain willing to return back

Sunday, 30 December 2012

31-12-2012
London: Founder and Leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Mr. Altaf Hussain has announced to return back to his homeland.

He asked the workers to be ready for Islamabad march. He said the MQM had rendered sacrifices to change system. Altaf Hussain said that he had never raised slogan of separation despite the killings of his party workers.

“I have given my hand in Tahirul Qadri’s hand and we stand by him to save Pakistan, we want system of justice” he said.

He called on workers to set out for Islamabad to participate in January March 14. Mr Hussain said; “MQM workers have rendered much sacrifices, I will be among you anytime”.


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Shahi Syed following Altaf’s foot prints

Friday, 20 July 2012

21-07-2012
Karachi: President of Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh division, Senator Shahi Syed started to follow foot prints of MQM’s supremo Altaf Hussain. He addressed to party workers from London and gave condolence remarks on the killing of ANP’s member of Sindh council ‘Fazal Ameen’. He said, personality of Fazal Ameen is ideal for us. According to press release of ANP, Syed said, we appeal government to use all machinery to nab murderers of Fazal.


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