Altaf Hussain Founder of MQM
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Quaid-e-Tehreek
17th September 1953 – Quaid’s Date of Birth:
The founder and leader of MQM Mr. Altaf Hussain was born in Karachi on 17th September 1953.
- In 1947 after the independence of Pakistan, Mr. Altaf Hussain’s father Mr. Nazeer Hussain migrated from Agra and settled in the middle class suburb “Aibi Sinya lines” locality of Karachi.
- Mr. Altaf Hussain’s family comprised of 7 brothers and 4 sisters. His elder brother 66 year old Mr. Nasir Hussain and his nephew 28 year old Mr. Arif Hussain were brutally murdered on 8th December 1995 during Benazir Bhutto’s government.
- After living in Aibee Sinya lines for several years Mr. Altaf Hussain’s family moved to Jehangir Road Government Quarters that was leased to his elder brother Mr. Nasir Hussain who was a government officer. In 1970 Mr. Altaf Hussain’s family finally moved and settled in F.B. Area Block Number 8 in Azizabad.
- That 120 yard house remained in the family’s possession to date and became a strong symbol of lower middle class political struggle in Pakistan. Today the house is popularly known as “90” and is a center of all political activism of MQM in Pakistan.
1969-1979 Education
- Mr. Altaf Hussain attained his primary education from “Welchi Bhai Allah Rakha School” and Matriculation (Grade 10) from Government Boys Secondary School Jail Road in 1969. He attended “National College” for the 1st year in then went to “City College” to attain his Intermediate Degree (Grade 12) in Science.
- Mr. Altaf Hussain graduated from Islamia Science College with a Bachelors of Science degree (Pre-Medical) in 1974.
- He continued his study to attain a Bachelors of Pharmacy (B. Pharmacy) degree from Karachi University in 1979.
June 11, 1978 - Creation of APMSO:
- It was during University life that Mr. Altaf Hussain became involved in activism raising his voice for various injustices against Muhajir students.
- Mr. Altaf Hussain rightly felt the sense of depreciation among Muhajir Community. In 1951 the murder of first Muhajir Prime Minister Khan Liaquat Ali Khan, the closure of borders for Muslims of India, the designed ethnic clashes between Muhajir and Pukhtun Communities, forced early retirement of Muhajir Government Officials, transfer of Capital from Karachi to Islamabad, the grave condition of Pakistani’s in the Red Cross Camps after the fall of East Pakistan, the ill distribution of quota among rural and urban Sindh during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government, language bill, the migration of thousands of families from rural Sindh to Urban centers and many other social and ethnic injustices shaped Mr. Altaf Hussain’s thinking. Especially the injustices towards Muhajir Students forced him to found All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization on June 11, 1978.
- His philosophy gained momentum and large number of students gathered at his platform. He was elected as the first Chairman of APMSO on June 11, 1978.
March 18, 1984 - Creation of MQM:
By 1984 APMSO’s message has spreaded along each nook and corner of province of Sindh. Several hundred units have been formed and hence a formation of its public wing was been demanded by general Muhajir population. Due to this need Mr. Altaf Hussain formed “Muhajir Quami Movement” (MQM) on March 18, 1984.
August 8th 1986 - First Public Convention at Nishtar Park:
By 1986 MQM had already arranged several hundred big and small rallies and public meetings and conveyed its message to hundreds of thousands of people.
- MQM decided to give a test to its popularity by arranging its first grand scale public meeting at Nishtar Park in Karachi on August 8th 1986. The event was historic by any definition and broke all previous records of public attendance at that venue despite heavy downpour.
October 31, 1986 – Public Meeting at Pukka Qila Hyderabad
- After the success of meeting at Nishtar Park MQM decided to proceed to Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh. It decided to hold a public rally on October 31, 1986. The grand rally’s turnout was at least half a million people.
- The great success of that event instigated MQM opponents to fire upon MQM workers and killing at least 7 at Sohrab Goth locality of Karachi. In a similar incident 6 workers were gunned down at Market Chowk in Hyderabad.
October 1986 – February 1988: Mr. Altaf Hussain’s Arrest:
- The exploitative forces not just started a reign of terror against MQM to counter its popularity but establishment also went on to pressure MQM by arresting Mr. Altaf Hussain from Ghaghar Phatak while his return from Hyderabad on October 31, 1986. Due to severe public pressure Mr. Altaf Hussain and several other party men were unconditionally released on February 24 1988. All the fake charges were also dropped.
30th August 1987 – Re-arrest of Mr. Altaf Hussain:
- In 1987 Establishment once again went on to mass arrest MQM workers which forced Mr. Altaf Hussain to voluntary present himself for arrest to negotiate the release of more than 5000 arrested workers and supporters.
November 1987 – Success in Local Bodies Elections:
- While Mr. Altaf Hussain was still in jail, government announced to hold Local Bodies Elections. Government wished that it would be able to hold off MQM from actively participating in election due to the arrests of Central Leaders including Mr. Altaf Hussain himself. However MQM participated and attain landslide victories in Urban Centers of Sindh defeating almost all the traditional political groups.
- The great success leads to the unopposed selection of Mayor and Deputy Mayor from MQM Candidates.
- The success also resulted in the mounting public pressure for the release of Mr. Altaf Hussain and who was finally again released on January 7th, 1988. All the charges against him were dropped unconditionally.
1988 – 1997 – Political Successes in all General Elections:
- MQM’s political strength only grew stronger with the devotion and courage of Mr. Altaf Hussain. MQM has participated in all General Elections since 1988 and has attained landslide victories in all of its traditional constituencies of Urban Sindh. The General elections of 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1997 and has witnessed the trend of immense public support for Mr. Altaf Hussain’s message.
The founder and leader of MQM Mr. Altaf Hussain was born in Karachi on 17th September 1953.
- In 1947 after the independence of Pakistan, Mr. Altaf Hussain’s father Mr. Nazeer Hussain migrated from Agra and settled in the middle class suburb “Aibi Sinya lines” locality of Karachi.
- Mr. Altaf Hussain’s family comprised of 7 brothers and 4 sisters. His elder brother 66 year old Mr. Nasir Hussain and his nephew 28 year old Mr. Arif Hussain were brutally murdered on 8th December 1995 during Benazir Bhutto’s government.
- After living in Aibee Sinya lines for several years Mr. Altaf Hussain’s family moved to Jehangir Road Government Quarters that was leased to his elder brother Mr. Nasir Hussain who was a government officer. In 1970 Mr. Altaf Hussain’s family finally moved and settled in F.B. Area Block Number 8 in Azizabad.
- That 120 yard house remained in the family’s possession to date and became a strong symbol of lower middle class political struggle in Pakistan. Today the house is popularly known as “90” and is a center of all political activism of MQM in Pakistan.
1969-1979 Education
- Mr. Altaf Hussain attained his primary education from “Welchi Bhai Allah Rakha School” and Matriculation (Grade 10) from Government Boys Secondary School Jail Road in 1969. He attended “National College” for the 1st year in then went to “City College” to attain his Intermediate Degree (Grade 12) in Science.
- Mr. Altaf Hussain graduated from Islamia Science College with a Bachelors of Science degree (Pre-Medical) in 1974.
- He continued his study to attain a Bachelors of Pharmacy (B. Pharmacy) degree from Karachi University in 1979.
June 11, 1978 - Creation of APMSO:
- It was during University life that Mr. Altaf Hussain became involved in activism raising his voice for various injustices against Muhajir students.
- Mr. Altaf Hussain rightly felt the sense of depreciation among Muhajir Community. In 1951 the murder of first Muhajir Prime Minister Khan Liaquat Ali Khan, the closure of borders for Muslims of India, the designed ethnic clashes between Muhajir and Pukhtun Communities, forced early retirement of Muhajir Government Officials, transfer of Capital from Karachi to Islamabad, the grave condition of Pakistani’s in the Red Cross Camps after the fall of East Pakistan, the ill distribution of quota among rural and urban Sindh during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government, language bill, the migration of thousands of families from rural Sindh to Urban centers and many other social and ethnic injustices shaped Mr. Altaf Hussain’s thinking. Especially the injustices towards Muhajir Students forced him to found All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization on June 11, 1978.
- His philosophy gained momentum and large number of students gathered at his platform. He was elected as the first Chairman of APMSO on June 11, 1978.
March 18, 1984 - Creation of MQM:
By 1984 APMSO’s message has spreaded along each nook and corner of province of Sindh. Several hundred units have been formed and hence a formation of its public wing was been demanded by general Muhajir population. Due to this need Mr. Altaf Hussain formed “Muhajir Quami Movement” (MQM) on March 18, 1984.
August 8th 1986 - First Public Convention at Nishtar Park:
By 1986 MQM had already arranged several hundred big and small rallies and public meetings and conveyed its message to hundreds of thousands of people.
- MQM decided to give a test to its popularity by arranging its first grand scale public meeting at Nishtar Park in Karachi on August 8th 1986. The event was historic by any definition and broke all previous records of public attendance at that venue despite heavy downpour.
October 31, 1986 – Public Meeting at Pukka Qila Hyderabad
- After the success of meeting at Nishtar Park MQM decided to proceed to Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh. It decided to hold a public rally on October 31, 1986. The grand rally’s turnout was at least half a million people.
- The great success of that event instigated MQM opponents to fire upon MQM workers and killing at least 7 at Sohrab Goth locality of Karachi. In a similar incident 6 workers were gunned down at Market Chowk in Hyderabad.
October 1986 – February 1988: Mr. Altaf Hussain’s Arrest:
- The exploitative forces not just started a reign of terror against MQM to counter its popularity but establishment also went on to pressure MQM by arresting Mr. Altaf Hussain from Ghaghar Phatak while his return from Hyderabad on October 31, 1986. Due to severe public pressure Mr. Altaf Hussain and several other party men were unconditionally released on February 24 1988. All the fake charges were also dropped.
30th August 1987 – Re-arrest of Mr. Altaf Hussain:
- In 1987 Establishment once again went on to mass arrest MQM workers which forced Mr. Altaf Hussain to voluntary present himself for arrest to negotiate the release of more than 5000 arrested workers and supporters.
November 1987 – Success in Local Bodies Elections:
- While Mr. Altaf Hussain was still in jail, government announced to hold Local Bodies Elections. Government wished that it would be able to hold off MQM from actively participating in election due to the arrests of Central Leaders including Mr. Altaf Hussain himself. However MQM participated and attain landslide victories in Urban Centers of Sindh defeating almost all the traditional political groups.
- The great success leads to the unopposed selection of Mayor and Deputy Mayor from MQM Candidates.
- The success also resulted in the mounting public pressure for the release of Mr. Altaf Hussain and who was finally again released on January 7th, 1988. All the charges against him were dropped unconditionally.
1988 – 1997 – Political Successes in all General Elections:
- MQM’s political strength only grew stronger with the devotion and courage of Mr. Altaf Hussain. MQM has participated in all General Elections since 1988 and has attained landslide victories in all of its traditional constituencies of Urban Sindh. The General elections of 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1997 and has witnessed the trend of immense public support for Mr. Altaf Hussain’s message.
Mr Altaf Hussain, MQM Founder & Leader, is usually recognised as the leader of the third largest political party in Pakistan. He is the first and only leader in Pakistan who introduced a new trend in the political culture by giving a non-feudal based political philosophy and forming a true democratic, liberal and progressive political party, which is the sole representative of educated middle class masses, minorities and have-nots. The people of Pakistan are well aware of his political ideologies and statements. However, only a few know that Altaf Hussain is not only a political leader but also a genuine thinker, who expresses comprehensive ideas and analysis on various subjects of life during sessions with his workers. These opinions and statements are not only novel but also thought provoking.
