After talks with the banned organizations in the country, the convener of the ruling coalition party Muttahida Qqaumi Movement, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has demanded the complete restoration of MQM including the revival of its closed offices and assets.
The government is likely to give a nod for full revival of MQM and allow MQM founding chief to participate in politics, while rumors regarding the return of the former governor Sindh are also circulating.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida founding chief announced the formation of a student organization called All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organization in Karachi on June 11, 1978 as a student leader. In order to join the national mainstream, the APMSO was transformed into Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and with the change of name, the door was opened for the people in the party to speak other dialects besides Urdu.
Political importance
After entering the political mainstream, the MQM focused its attention on the Urdu-speaking classes in Sindh and began to gain significant seats in the local body, provincial and national assembly from the Urdu-speaking areas of Sindh. For the past two decades, Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shikarpur and Sukkur have been considered strongholds of the MQM. In addition to having a large political force in the urban areas of Sindh, the MQM also has influence in the assemblies.
Allegations of having militant wing
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is often accused of militancy, with most of those arrested since January 2011 being linked to the MQM. The party is also accused of having involvement in Baldia Factory fire, May 12 riots and others.
Nine Zero Raid
On March 11, 2015, Pakistan Rangers Sindh raided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters at Nine Zero and arrested several people, including death row inmates and those against whom FIRs have been registered.
On March 17, 2015, a case was registered against Muttahida founder was registered in Karachi Civil Lines Police Station in response to the threats to Pakistan Rangers personnel. The case was registered on the complaint of Colonel Tahir.
Division in MQM
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) came into being on August 23, 2016 when Dr. Farooq Sattar during a press conference, announced the severance of all ties with MQM founding chief and his London party.
The reason was MQM founding chief’s anti-Pakistan and anti-state speech on August 22, 2016, after which MQM workers attacked a private news channel and started vandalism. Following the unrest, Rangers arrested a senior MQM leader who was later released and at the same time, the organization’s headquarters at Nine Zero and all its unit offices were closed.
Currently, MQM Pakistan is running its political affairs from the temporary center of Bahadurabad.
Return of MQM founding chief into politics
MQM has remained part of various governments from its foundation and it remained at the receiving end for a long time and now when the banned status of the TLP has been removed and the government is holding talks with the banned TTP, the voices are being raised for the restoration of MQM and sources are claiming the return of MQM chief into country’s politics.
