Foreign Connections of the MQM Exposed

By Sajjad Shaukat

After an aggressive anti-Pakistan speech of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on August 22, this year, party workers attacked several media houses in Karachi.

Addressing his workers on Phone from London, who were on hunger strike, Altaf Hussain went to called for the break-up of Pakistan. He ordered attacks on the offices of Karachi-based media houses of Geo Television Network, ARY and Samaa News. Particularly, office of the ARY TV channel was badly destroyed by the MQM mob. During the violence, a passer-by was killed, while several others were injured, including the staff of the ARY TV and policemen. During the crackdown made by the Rangers and police several extremists of the MQM and its leaders were rounded up.

On August 24, 2016, Altaf Hussain’s leaked phone call to MQM exposed foreign connections of the MQM and its chief Altaf Hussain when he asked USA, Indian secret agency RAW and even Israel for help to disintegrate Pakistan.

Various leaders of Pakistan’s political and religious parties including every segment of society and media analysts strongly condemned the anti-Pakistan statements of Altaf Hussain in wake of protest-rallies. Some of them called him traitor. Even, his own party workers condemned Altaf Hussian’s statement. In a press conference MQM leader Farooq Sattar said that that the MQM was dissociating itself from Altaf Hussain, and now the decisions would be made under his leadership—not from London.

Meanwhile, MQM MNA Asif Hasnain joined Mustafa Kamal’s Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), rejecting Farooq Sattar’s earlier announcement that the MQM was dissociating itself from Altaf Hussain. Earlier, knowing the real intentions of Altaf Hussain, several MQM workers joined PSP.

The PSP chief Mustafa Kamal who have repeatedly pointed out the links between MQM and Altal Hussain, rejected the MQM’s statement that the party chief was handing over party affairs to the Coordination Committee and focusing on improving his health. Kamal invited others to join the party and said, “If you have a problem with Altaf, leave the mandate. It is not your mandate, it is his mandate.”

It is notable that before the ongoing operation by the Rangers and Police, gang warfare, criminal activities and target killings had taken the lives of thousands of persons including the personnel of the Rangers and Police in Karachi. A rise of sectarian violence also resulted into several casualties.

The present Government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif launched the targeted operation in Karachi after obtaining consensus of all stakeholders like political parties, business community and members of civil society. For the purpose, Karachi was particularly handed over to the Rangers with power to take action against the culprits without any discrimination.

In 2014, leader of the MQM and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad Khan had submitted his resignation, as MQM dubbed the operation with the pretext that it is against its office bearers. While, this party had itself supported the operation, and even demanded to hand over Karachi to Army.

Notably, MPA of MQM, Nadeem Hashmi was arrested on September 10, 2013 owing to firing at a police mobile in the Haideri area of the city in which the two policemen were killed. In the same month, some MQM workers were arrested, who were found involved in criminal activities, while the founder and leader of MQM Altaf Hussain had condemned the raid on MQM’s offices.

In the recent past, the paramilitary force proved that the MQM was behind the Baldia Town factory fire in which 250 persons were killed. On February 8, 2015, the Rangers also arrested a senior MQM worker namely Rafiq Rajput who not only ran a team of ‘hit men’ but was also involved in the May 12, 2007 carnage in the Karachi.

On February 10, 2015, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan disclosed that MQM Chief Altaf Hussain based in London has let loose a “reign of terror” in Karachi. He elaborated, “Nobody is safe at the hands of the party’s armed wing…with the revelation of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report in which Hussain’s party has been held responsible for the killing of over 250 Baldia Town factory workers.” Earlier, Imran Khan also pledged to take Altaf Hussain to the British court, as he is also behind the killing of PTI’s leader Zahra Shahid and journalist Wali Babar in Karachi.

However, some developments need attention, as these have proved that traitors are within the MQM. On April 30, 2015, during a press conference, while presenting two terrorists who he claimed belonged to the MQM, SSP Malir, Karachi Rao Anwar disclosed, “Key MQM leaders have connections with Indian spy agency RAW”, adding that the arrested MQM workers had received training from RAW. He further pointed out that the MQM was actively working against Pakistan, should be banned.

On the same day, the MQM leaders Dr Farooq and Rizvi strongly rejected accusations of SSP Anwar regarding his party’s affiliations with RAW. But, addressing his supporters via a telephonic address in Karachi, on the same day, Altaf Hussain not only criticized Pakistan’s armed forces, but also asked assistance from RAW. He also instructed his supporters to start “commando” training and to get arms—what MQM had been planning.

Next day, DG of ISPR Maj-Gen. Asim Bajwa called MQM chief’s speech disgusting—reference to the army or its leadership, adding that criminals’ links to political parties will not be tolerated.

But, like his previous contradictory statements, on May 1, 2015, Altaf Husain again apologized for his derogatory remarks against Army, while praising the latter. He also backed out from his statement about seeking help from RAW. And his Karachi-based leadership also started presenting various clarifications to conceal the real face of its chief. 

It is noteworthy that MQM’s leaders were already confused when on March 11, 2015, in a targeted operation, Rangers’ forces carried out a raid at Nine-Zero, the headquarters of the party in Karachi, and a large cache of illegal weapons were recovered and several criminals had also been arrested. Altaf had again targeted Pak Army and ISI. Afterwards, he again admired these security agencies and Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif.

Nevertheless, the real character of the MQM Chief Altaf Hussain also needs analysis. In this context, sometimes, he blamed Pak Army and ISI for harassing his party workers, calling the residents of Karachi to defend themselves, sometimes, he admired these security agencies, sometimes, he threatened to separate Karachi from the federation, sometimes, he showed a strong sense of patriotism for Pakistan In July 2015, Altaf Hussain threatened that there will be “war on the streets” of Karachi and that “Pakistan will be turned into Somalia”. On July 16, the MQM leader addressed his workers and issued direct threats to the DG of the Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar and the DG of Sindh Rangers. Lt. Gen, Bilal Akbar.

In fact, changing stance of Altaf Hussain and clarifications of other MQM leaders in this connection displayed that they want to continue MQM’s armed wing including subversive activities in Karachi.

It is mentionable that Zulfiqar Mirza, the then Home Minister and Senior Vice President of the then ruling party—Pakistan Peoples Party claimed on April 9, 2011 that he had been relieved from his ministry owing to pressure from the government’s coalition partner, the MQM. Mirza pointed out that the issue of target killing and extortion was just a ruse to remove him from his post.

It is worth-mentioning that in June 3, 2014, Altaf Hussain was arrested by Scotland Yard Police in London. London Police and agencies were holding investigation against him in three cases including money laundering, after recovery of 7 Lac pounds from Altaf Hussain home and office in London—controversial speeches from London and Imran Farooq murder case. In this respect, in his article, Salman Mugsi wrote on August 27, 2011, “Altaf Hussain designated Waseem Akhtar in Karachi to arrange for the murder of Imran Farooq. Waseem Akhtar gave this task to Khalid Shameem and Hammad Siddiqui, who are incharge of militant wing of the MQM in Karachi. Khalid Shameem picked two boys from the student wing of MQM…who reached London, followed Imran Farooq for few days and noted his routines and then carried out his assassination according to the plan.”

It is of particular attention that a report of the JIT revealed that Saulat Mirza, the death row inmate and the former MQM’s worker, who recorded his statement before the JIT revealed that MQM had links with Indian RAW. Mirza confessed to killing 13 people, yet he was implicated in two murders only.

As regards “Batha khauri”, everyone in Karachi knows that MQM had been collecting this illegal money from the local businessmen who were afraid of threats and terror-related actions of this party’s militant wing. While a majority of the innocent people of the city and followers of the MQM do not know the malpractices and criminal acts of this political party and its connections with anti-Pakistan external entities—are being misguided by their old leaders who act upon the directions of Altaf Hussain.

The loyal Pakistanis, living in Karachi must know that Karachi is Pakistan’s largest port and financial hub with the largest commercial markets, collecting 70 per cent of the country’s tax revenue. So, besides causing unrest in the city, creating instability in Pakistan, another aim of the MQM was to cripple the economy of the city which was intermittently brought to a halt with shut-down strikes—many shops including other business centers were forced to be closed. And, old leadership of MQM misguides the people by propagating that national institutions are not made to develop other areas of Pakistan like Karachi, alleging that the establishment is once again doing the ethnic cleansing of Muhajirs.

Regarding the foreign connections of the MQM, Defence Clifton Resident Committee (DCRC), Mohajir RAbitta Council (MRC) and Mohajir Ittehad Tehreek (MIT) are the three front organizations of MQM (Altaf) which usually depict themselves as separate entity of Mohajirs whereas, these are controlled, monitored and directed by MQM (A). These front organizations serve those agendas and activities of MQM (A)—international establishment for which MQM (A) do not want to use its own platform.

MQM (A) is likely to use these front organizations for initiating its campaign for separate Mohajir province, besides giving out an impression to the international platform that this demand of new province is the voice of all other Mohajir organizations communities.

DCRC includes Syed Akhtar Mehdi Balgrami, Head of DCRC, Mehfooz Yar Khan, Joint Incharge and Anwar Fatima Farah, Joint Incharge, MRC’s Head is Javed Iqbal and Secretary is Muhammad Arshad Siddiqui, while, Dr Qazi Saleem Haide is head of MIT, with member  Muhammad Rashid Qureshi. 

Nevertheless, MQM is propagating that only Karachi is being targeted by the Rangers and Pak Army is behind the present operation. Their leaders are only creating prejudice against the Rangers and Army to obtain the designs of the external enemies of Pakistan. But, fact is that Pakistan’s armed forces have also been conducting military operations in other parts of the country such as Balochistan, North Waziristan Agencies and other tribal areas.

The residents of Karachi must be aware of the fact that Pakistan Army has given countless sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. In this respect, majority of terror attacks have been foiled/averted and it is only the odd incidents which manage to succeed. In this connection, a summary of terrorism incidents averted during April-June 2016 shows—Islamabad & Azad Jamnu Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan-8, Punjab-3, KPK & FATA-75, Sindh-3 and Balochistan-58 (Total 147).         

While Army’s top priority is to restore complete peace in Karachi. In this regard, Army Chief Gen. Raheel vowed on April 29, 2016 to finish ‘all mafias’ in Karachi and made it clear that indiscriminate operation in the city would continue till its logical conclusion. Now, especially like Balochistan, peace has almost been restored in Karachi.

Nonetheless, understanding the ground realties, and for peace of Karachi, the residents of the city including moderate elements must make efforts for reorganization of MQM by replacing the old leaders like Altaf Hussain, Farooq Sattar etc. with the new ones. For the purpose, all the peace-loving segments of society of Karachi belonging to MQM must take bold decision jointly, without being afraid of MQM’s militant wing. These patriot-persons must not be misguided by the leaders of the party and its chief. They must know the traitors within the MQM and the real face of its chief Altaf Hussain, as their foreign connections have been exposed.