My Life's Journey The Early Years 1966-1988

by Husaain, Altaf

• ISBN13: 9780199063413
• ISBN10: 0199063419
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-06-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Based on a long interview of Altaf Husain, the present day Chief of the now Muttahida Qaumi Movement (previously Mohajir Qaumi Movement), this book is an account of the protagonist's life and political career up to the year 1988. It provides illuminating insights into the rise of a powerful political party and its charismatic leader. Husain's early encounters with prejudice against a straggling group of immigrants from India known as 'Mohajirs', his disillusionment with religious parties and their claim of impartiality towards all fellow Muslims soon led him to create a robust and coherent political party from the amorphous group of people who were given the name of 'Mohajir'. Not only is this book invaluable as an early blueprint of the MQM's future development and concerns, it is also an impressive record of how an individual, with the help of a small group of friends, generated political consciousness among people who felt powerless in their adopted country, and helped them to stand up confidently for their rights-and later, for the rights of other unprivileged people.

Author Biography

Altaf Hussain was politically active from a very young age. While attending the University of Karachi, he served as General Secretary and later as President of the National Student's Action Committee. Hussain founded the 'All Pakistan Mohajir Student Organization' (APMSO) on 11 June 1978. The APMSO was formed as a student rights group campaigning for the rights of Muhajir students at the University of Karachi. It later gave birth to the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), which transformed into Muttahida Qaumi Movement in 1997.

On 19 June 1992 the Pakistani government launched the first army operation against the MQM in the wake of which a parallel organisation was formed. He converted the MQM from Muhajir Qaumi Movement to Muttahida Qaumi Movement, to accommodate members from other ethnic groups.

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations
Introduction
The Birth of the Movement
Admission to the B.Sc. Course
Admission to B.Pharmacy
The Role of Students' Unions
The Idea of a Fifth Nationality
My Role in the Nizam-e-Mustafa Movement
My Involvement with the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA)
The Moving Spirit of the Mohajir Movement
Who was Responsible for the Language Clashes in Sindh?
The Founding of APMSO: The Background
Reaction to the Launch of APMSO
APMSO's Field of Activities
Applying for a Room in the Hostel
The First Admissions Campaign at the University of Karachi
Devotion to the Success of the Mission
The Need for Funds for the Movement
Another Mohajir Organization
Taking Part in the Students' Union Elections
The Condition of Educational Institutions
After the Banishment from Educational Institutions
The Launching of the MQM
The Importance of the MQM
Steadfastness of the Mohajirs
Success in the Local Bodies Elections
The Law and Order Situation in Karachi
The Role of the Drug Mafia
Jail Experiences
Punishment by the Martial Law Court
The Second Arrest
Interrogation in Jail
The Third Arrest
My First Meeting with G.M. Syed
G.M. Syed and the MQM
G.M. Syed
MQM and Other Leaders of Sindh
MQM's Stand on the Rights of the People
Plans for Expansion of the MQM
The MQM in National Politics
The MQM's Afghan Policy
The Political Predictions of Pir Saheb Pagara
Choosing the Mayor of Karachi
The Local Police Force in Sindh
Our Stand on the Quota System in Sindh
The MQM's Stand on the Population of Karachi
Controlling Law and Order in Karachi
The Mohajirs: A Separate Nationality
The First, or the Tribal Period
The Second, or the Feudal Age
The Third, or the Modern Industrial Age
Nation and Nationality
The Beginnings of Mohajir Nationality
The Desire to Maintain the Identity of the Nationality
The Reason for the MQM's Popularity
Enmity with the MQM
Attempts on My Life
Taking Part in the Elections
The Issue of My Marriage
My Family's Part in the Movement
The Kalabagh Dam
Why the Stress on the Word 'Mohajir'?
Who are the Mohajirs?
Afterword
Appendix: Details of the Points in the Charter of Resolution
Index