All this were based on newspapers dailies Jang, Jasarat, The News , The Muslim, Nawa-I-Waqt,
Frontier Post , The Nation, Dawn , Jang, Pakistan Times and others
Yearwise detail of MQM's atrocities (Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM))
MQM came into being on March 18, 1984 from "All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation" (APMSO) but politically it got activated in 1986.
And from that year politics and history of Karachi took a bloody turn. The year wise details about the regime of terror which started in 1986, and about the story of horror, and blood and tears which still continues unfortunately, and also of the wicked leader "Quaid-e-Tahreek" of the same party who changed thousand faces all these years, and of the handful of elements who for their own interests used cheap tactics and created disturbance and violence in Karachi,
1986
MQM's first-ever public meeting at Karachi's Nishtar park on August 8, 1986, was marked by heavy aerial firing from the; pistols and rifles which the party activists were carrying on them. On that day, windowpanes of a traffic police kiosk opposite Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum were broken, and stones were pelted on petrol pump near Gurumandir. Addressing the rally, Altaf Hussain said: "Karachi is no more mini-Pakistan. We will accept help no matter where it comes from, from east or west, north or south" (dailies Jang, Jasarat and other newspapers of August 9, 1986).
Two months later, on October 25, 1986, while addressing a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club, Altaf Hussain told the Mohajir youth to "collect arms. If our rights are not given to us, we will use every kind of force". On October 31, while addressing a public meeting at Hyderabad's Pakka Qila, he said: "At first we fought for freedom. Now that we have freedom, we are searching for a country" (daily Amn, Nov 1, 1986). Riots broke out in Karachi the same evening. Twelve persons were killed, 25 wagons, autorickshaws and motorbikes were set on fire, and four houses and eight shops were torched.
Riots spread to Hyderabad where seven persons were shot dead in two days. Curfew was clamped in both cities to contain violence, and Altaf Hussain alongwith ten others was arrested by he police on November 2 for attempt to murder and rioting. Nine other MQM activists were also taken into custody and firearms recovered from their possession, whereas 63 persons from other parties to the rioting were arrested from Sohrab Goth area. On November 3, ten persons were killed in hand-grenade attacks in Orangi Town area while six others died in street trouble, brining the week's death toll in Karachi to 52.
On November 18, armed MQM activists fired in the air to disrupt a cricket match in Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium. On November 21, at the end of a one-day cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies, armed MQM activists blocked all roads leading to Karachi's National Stadium. 30 persons received bullet wounds in indiscriminate firing in the Liaquatabad. Teen Hatti, Gulbahar, Orangi, Sabzi Mandi, Nazimabad and other areas of the city. A bank was burnt in Liaquatabad, while a bus was put on fire on Shahrah-e-Quaideen. One November 22, three buses and an oil tanker were burnt in Landhi, while a branch of the National Bank was ransacked and torched in Liaquatabad.
Another government bus and a minibus were burnt in Malir and Old Numaish, and several buses were pelted with stones on November 23. On November 24, 11 vehicles were burnt down in New Karachi, Federal B' Area, Paposhnagar, Gulbahar and Nasirabad. On November 28, armed clashes between MQM activists and the police took place in Hyderabad during which five bank branches were damaged and one bus put on fire.
MQM announced a strike in Karachi on December 9 and asked its followers to remain peaceful. The 'peaceful' strike led to the burning of 11 vehicles and seven bank branches. One youngster was killed, and nearly 40 wounded in indiscriminate firing. Demonstrators pelted stones on the police and a bomb was blasted near Liaquatabad police station. The police became helpless against protesters" (daily Amn). On December 14, MQM's secretary general Dr Imran Farooq stated that the situation could be brought under control only if Altaf Hussain and his companions were freed.
That night, 50 persons lost lives during ghastly manslaughter in Orangi Town. The army was called in and curfew clamped. According to newspapers, the entire Ghetto Township had passed into the hands of a group of klashnikov-weilding youngsters. 70 more persons were killed on December 15.
According to available statistics, as many as 173 persons were sacrificed on the alter of MQM struggle for rights, while 10 banks, 75 vehicles 24 houses and 20 shops were burnt during the last 153 days of 1986. The battle for Karachi's so-called rights had begun. On December 20, MQM Chairman Azim Ahmad Tariq demanded justice for Mohajirs, and advised President Zia-ul Haq to issue arms licenses to Mohajirs. After this, we will neither invite the police or the administration to defend us, nor criticize the government on this score" (daily Jang Karachi).
1987
With the onset of 1987, lawlessness in Karachi caused curfew for a record number of days. This was also the year when MQM's anti-press traits began to shape up. The coming days were to expose some of the most fundamental contradictions inherent in the party's structure and philosophy.
It was on January 31, when Altaf Hussain made the first most controversial public statement of his career. Addressing a series of welcome receptions in Liaquatabad on that day, he told his audience. "Mohajirs will have no god use for their VCRs, color televisions and other luxuries because these things cannot defend us. They will have to arrange for their own security" (daily Jang, Feb 1, 1987).
On February 1, in the central committee meeting of Awami National Party at Lahore that was presided by Khan Abdul Wali Khan, a resolution was passed stating that Sindh's Mohajirs were a part of the larger Sindhi nationality, and that there was no such thing as a Mohajir nationality. ANP was later to become one of MQM's most trusted allies in national politics.
On February 19, Altaf Hussain addressed another rally at Burns Road in Karachi. As the party activists started shooting their guns in the air, Altaf Hussain stopped them, saying "save your ammunition". The audience raised hands to give Altaf the permission to meet anyone, including G.M. Syed. During his address, Altaf said that Sindh could not bear any more population. "There are also Lahore and Faisalabad in the way. These too are Pakistani cities".
On February 20 and 21, 16 persons were wounded and one Suzuki van, four motorbikes and a KTC bus were put on fire during rioting in Liaquatabad, Shershah, Federal B' Area and Sabzi Mandi. Young boys in Liaquatabad pelted stones at the police the whole day.
On April 5, at the book launching ceremony of Shakil Ahmad Zia, Altaf made a hard hitting speech against Punjab, the Punjabis and the army. "You used force, and the result was that the country broke into two History offers no example of such a large number of troops laying down arms. For those who want to send us back to India, let me say that we will not go alone. The whole Pakistan will go to India". During the same address he issued his first threat to the press. One newspaper is becoming a party against Mohajirs. It should take warning" (daily Amn. April 6, 1987).
On May 21, a young man was killed when riots broke out in Malir and Khokhrapar in protest over the arrest of some MQM workers. Six vehicles were also burnt in the area.
In an interview with daily Nawa-e-Waqt's Irashad Ahmad Arif, published on May 25, 1987, Altaf Hussain said: "Urdu language is Punjab's problem, not ours. We have never demanded that it should be made the national language".
On June 11, while addressing the foundation day celebrations of All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO), he demanded that Mohajirs be issued with arms licenses. He said the religious parties did nothing for the Mohajir Shaheeds but when a Punjabi died everyone from top issued statements of condemnation to bottom. He also said that anyone who met the Muslim Leaguers or was hand in glove with the government ministers had no place in MQM ranks (daily Amn, June 12, 1987).
On June 21, MQM chairman, Azim Ahmad Tariq, stated that the anti-Mohajir policy of daily Jang would be fully resisted. He announced Jang's boycott, and asked people not to read it. The same evening, dozen-armed persons attacked Jang's bureau in Hyderabad and put the premises on fire.
From July 22 to August 30, clashes between MQM and a rival group called Punjabi-Pukhtoon Ittehad (PPI) caused the death of 22 persons, while 300 were wounded. Five policemen also died in riots, while 38 were wounded. Seven KTC buses and a local train also became targets of terrorism. Clashes between the two rival groups had first broken out in April, but arrests on both sides had caused the trouble to temporarily subside.
On August 4, during an address to MQM's general workers' meeting, Altaf Hussain said that the days of the power of the army and the police were numbered. These forces have been bullying us in our airfields, police stations, neighborhoods and streets. They have put the entire Pakistan in their pockets". He further said on August 14, MQM would announce that mini-Pakistan is not Karachi, but Lahore. "Throw open the gates of Lahore to Afghan refugees on that day, and let them do what they please" (daily Amn, August 5, 1987).
On August 9, the campaign to collect sacrificial hides began in Karachi and Azim Tariq, in a statement, alleged that the Jamaat workers robbed MQM volunteers of their hides at gunpoint. He condemned this act, and issued a warning to Jamaat. On August 21, Altaf Hussain told a meeting at New Karachi that the problems could no longer be solved without rendering sacrifices, and asked people willing to make sacrifices to give their names. Addressing the Mohajir police trainees, he said that if they are forced to quit their job, they should break the legs of their instructor. A time will come when our people will be sitting in police stations he said.
On August 26, bloody-armed clashes between two groups in Shah Faisal Colony led to the death of nine persons. 80 persons were injured. Eight platoons of police, riding in 32 mobile vans, were present at the scene but could not bring hostilities to an end. Riots also broke out in Hyderabad on August 27. Curfew was clamped which continued unbroken for twelve days, until 4 p.m. on September 7. On August 28, chairman Jiye Sindh Mahaz (JSM), Abdul Wahid Aresar, expressed support for the "suppressed" Mohajirs, saying that the army, the police and Punjabi settlers had attacked the Mohajirs as if they were a conquered people (daily Amn, August 29, 1987).
The government of Sindh on August 28 issued orders for the arrest of all those involved in rioting. PPI's Malik Ghulam Sarwar Awan, Mir Hazar Khan and 160 others were arrested, but Altaf Hussain was not found at his residence.
In the interest of peace, the government made a goodwill gesture by dropping criminal charges against all concerned, but it was not destined to work.
On August 30, Altaf Hussain courted arrest. On September 29, a spokesman of MQM said that the party considered Khanabdul Wali Khan and Abdul Ghaffar Khan as the true representatives of the Pukhtoons. He also expressed optimism about the party's ongoing talks with the PPI.
On October 8, G.M. Syed told journalists in Matli that the time had come for a union between the Sindhis and Mohajirs. We have recognized our common enemy, he said.
On October 31, MQM announced a strike to commemorate last year's killings at Sohrab Goth. During the strike, indiscriminate firing led to the killing of two persons. 85 others were injured while six vehicles, seven shopsand two banks were put on fire. A telephone exchange was burnt in Orangi. Three women, a girl and a man were injured in roadside firing in Liaquatabad and a petrol bomb in Pak Colony injured two police constables. Riots in Kotri and Hyderabad resulted in injuries to DSP and SSP Hyderabad, while offices of the Muslim League and Wapda, a post office, an office of social security, four bank branches and 17 vehicles were set on fire.
1988
Rioting, arson and murder continued into January 1998, ten months before the restoration of democracy in the country. On January 10, stabbing incidents and acts of terrorism in Golimar, Liaquatabad, New Karachi Shah Faisal Colony, Banaras, tin Hatti, Chand Bibi Road and Rizvia Society led to the killing of five persons, and the injuring of several pedestrians including three journalists. 13 vehicles were also set on fire. The army was called in to control the situation. On January 18, four persons were killed in bloody clashes between MQM and PPI activists. Moreover, 37 houses and shops of the area were put on fire in petrol bomb attacks. Curfew was clamped to disengage the warring factions.
Nine persons were killed and 60 hurt in riots that engulfed Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Sohrab Goth on February 4. The property put on fire included 28 houses, several shops, two factories, a petrol pump and several vehicles. Six more people were killed, and two vehicles burnt, in Liaquatabad, Pak Colony and Gulbahar areas on February 8. Curfew continued in different areas of the city. In a statement on February 21, Altaf Hussain said that Jamaat-e-Islami was another name for the drug mafia and the police. He called Jamaat's Prof. Ghafoor a liar, and accused him of towing Jamaat's "traditional" policy of hypocrisy (daily Amn, Feb 22, 1988).
On March 1, the driver of an oil tanker lost control when he came under attack of rioters in Liaquatabad, the vehicle breaking into a house and killing four inmates. This incident was followed by violent protest in which rioters injured 12 policemen including SDM and DSP Liaquatabad. Nine police vans, a minibus and an autorickshaw were damaged. Four more vehicles were put on fire. On March 3, curfew was clamped in Liaquatabad to prevent further trouble. On March 13, in his address to the Karachi bar, Altaf Hussain advised Punjabis and Pukhtoons to go back to their own provinces and demand jobs from their governments.
On April 6, an attempt by the MQM to rename Haider Chowk (named after great nationalist leader, Comrade Haider Bux Jatoi) as Mohajir Chowk created tension in Hyderabad.
On April 30, an accident between a motorbike and a Suzuki van led to incidents of stabbing and firing in Orangi in which four persons were killed.
10 injured a bank branch and several shops burnt. The trouble spread, and by May 9, 31persons had fallen to death in factional fights in Orangi, Nishtar Road, Lighthouse, Pak Colony, Khwaja Ajmer Nagri, Nazimabad and elsewhere.
On May 11, the incidents of stabbing rickshaw drivers in the curfew hit areas started. Six rickshaw drivers were seriously injured. On May 23, MQM activists hiding in Jutland Lines and Shah Faisal colony started attacking policemen and magistrates in order to harass them.
On June 18, riots broke out in Hyderabad in which six persons died and 12 vehicles were destroyed. Two more persons died on the following day inspite of the imposition of curfew.
July 17, in the riots following attack on Mayor Hyderabad. Aftab Shaikh, eight persons were killed and much damage done to property. The bodies of the victims were sent to Sindh interior. On July 21, women activists of MQM stormed the Latifabad police Station and freed 18 arrested persons. G.M. Syed told newsmen on July 22 that both the government and Altaf Hussain were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation. Altaf Hussain had become arrogant, inflated, he said. On the following day, altaf Hussain called on Syed at Haider Manzil and the two leaders made and remove misunderstandings.
On August 30, MQM activists pumped bullets into a Karachi University student, Aamir Salim, killing him instantly. On September 3, APMSO activists launched attacks on members of other student bodies as well as on lecturers in various city colleges, injuring dozens of them. These attacks were supervised by five councilors of the municipality. On September 30, the worst carnage of Hyderabad's history took place in which more than 150 persons, including Urdu speaking, Gujratis, Sindhis and Memons were killed.
On the following day, i.e. on October 1, terrorists in an early morning operation in Karachi's suburban areas of Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Model Colony, Gulbahar, Orangi Town and Pak Colony herded out of their houses and shot dead at least 90 Sindhi persons. Chief of Mohajir Ittehad Tehrik (MIT), Dr Salim Haider, in a statement said that MQM had given nothing to the people but dead bodies.
On November 10, a representative meeting of the political parties of Karachi condemned MQM's terrorism, and in this regard a memorandum for Commissioner Karachi was signed by PPP's Amir Haider Kazmi, ANP's Amin Khatak, PDP's Mushtaq Mirza, JUI's Qari Sher Afzal and others. Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani stated that MQM wanted to win elections by terrorizing the people, "but we will not bow before anyone".
1989
This was the year when incidents of firing by masked assailants increased, differences within the MQM came to surface, and thousands of copies of Urdu daily Jang were burnt by MQM activists during a boycott of that newspaper.
The rioting that marred the last days of 1988 continued into the New Year with the death of a man on January 1, 1989. This led to the arrest of 72 PPI activists, and cases were registered against one MNA and two MPAs of MQM for inciting trouble. January 24 and 26, MQM forced the closure of all markets and bazaars in Sukkur. On January 30, armed bands of MQM activists took control of the NED Engineering University. On January, curfew was clamped in some parts of the Karachi port following the murder of a taxi driver in the area.
On February 23, arsonists torched the offices of the vice chancellor of Karachi University. After day long rioting, the university was closed indefinitely.
On March 10, a 16-year-old person died and about twelve others were hurt as a result of indiscriminate firing by terrorists on innocent pedestrians. On the same day MQM announced its boycott of Jang newspaper.
On March 11, four dead bodies were recovered from Model Colony area. On March 12, curfew was imposed in Shah Faisal Colony following the death of a 12-year-old child. 13 persons were inured in terrorist firing on March 13. On March 14, two dead bodies were recovered in the wake of ongoing trouble in Shah Faisal colony and Saudabad. Masked gunmen struck on March 18, killing 10 persons and wounding 15 as they went on a killing spree in Malir and Khokhrapar areas. On March 22, MQM members together with G.M. Syed's son, Imdad Mohammad Shah, staged a protest walkout from Sindh Assembly. On March 26, MQM announced that it would back the IJI for the repatriation of Biharis from Bangladesh.
On April 1, three people died in firing by masked gunmen in Shah Faisal Colony. Student trouble started in the two medical colleges of the city and 10 students were kidnapped from Karachi University. On April 6, 10 persons were killed and 40 others wounded in incidents of firing in Hyderabad. The trouble was controlled by imposition of curfew. While death and destruction reigned in Karachi and Hyderabad. Curfew was also imposed in Nawabshah following the death of five persons in linguistic riots.
Three MQM ministers filed their resignations on May 1, but the government as a goodwill gesture rejected these. On May 3, the MQM activists broke up a rally of JUP in Gulbahar at which Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani was the chief guest. On May 7, a government contractor was killed in Ranchore Line. On May 9, doctors lodged their protest over the activities of armed MQM activists inside Civil Hospital Karachi. In Sukkur, 20 shops were burnt down in linguistic riots. Medical examinations were postponed on May 18 following an armed clash of APMSO with Sindhi students.
MQM announced its campaign of voluntary arrests to protest against the government on May 26. Talks between the chief minister Punjab, Mian Nawaz Sharif, and Altaf Hussain for political co-operation were held on May 30. On June 1, three federal ministers held an emergent round of talks with the MQM in order to save the Karachi accord.
On June 14, a group of armed students stormed the university offices and held the vice chancellor and 20 staff members' hostage for eight hours.
Three Peoples Students Federation (PSF) workers were killed on July 8. Between July 16 and 23, widespread trouble in Hyderabad led to the death of 10 persons. Curfew was imposed in the city.
On August 13, following the killing of seven persons in firing by masked gunmen, certain areas of Karachi were again brought under curfew. Armed persons also gunned down 11 more persons died in riots on August 19, a police constable was gunned down.
Between September 17 and 19, at least nine people were killed and 24 injured in riots in Hyderabad. On September 21, a student was killed and three others injured in firing in Karachi's S.M. Science College. In Model Colony, day long rioting and running gunbattles led to the imposition of curfew. In a report submitted on September 22, the then DIG Karachi, Afzal Shigri, said that MQM was not a political organization, but a terrorist one.
Altaf met President Ghulam Ishaq Khan at Karachi's State guesthouse on October 13. On the same day, two police inspectors were gunned down by terrorists in the city. On October 23, MQM unilaterally pulled out of Karachi accord.
Violence hit Karachi and Hyderabad on November 6, in which four persons were killed. The then chief of army staff, Mirza Aslam Beg, expressed hope on November 7 that soon a broad based government would be established in the country. Rangers were called to Soldier Bazaar on November 9 following the death of one person in firing. On November 21, a man was killed in Baldia town.
On December 2 an armed clash between students of Dow Medical College resulted in injuries to 12 students. Meanwhile, five days of rioting in Hyderabad between December 12 and 25 resulted in the death of 21 persons. Five persons died in Karachi on December 20. Two more persons were killed in Karachi on December 21, while two students were killed on December 22.
1990
This was the year when MQM played horrible role by unleashing a reign of terror and blood letting in Karachi and Hyderabad, it set example of the extent to which it could go to impose a minority view on the majority.
400 persons were eliminated in the first six months of 1990, and many more were kidnapped and made hostage. The months of February and May saw the most killings, with MQM terrorists going on a killing spree to punish political dissent. And the time came when Karachiites were to be confined behind huge gates of steel obtained from the bounty of Pakistan Steel Mills which passed into MQM's effective control.
On January 3, 1990, ANP and MQM reached an agreement to work jointly for "peace" in Sindh. Between January 30 and February 3, 18 persons died in Hyderabad riots. The Government of Pakistan observed February 5 as solidarity day with the Kashmiris, and rallies were held all over the country. In the evening, masked gunmen killed two persons and kidnapped eight others in an obvious bid to counter Pakistan's Kashmir cause. MQM announced strike for February 7 and on February 6 the worst trouble of the year started. 64 persons were killed between February 6 and 9.
Karachi University opened on March 31, after a 51-day closure. Altaf Hussain started his famous fast unto death on April 7, which he was to end 150 hours later without achieving his aims. On April 12, MQM rejected a government offer to hold peace talks. In acts of terrorism in Hyderabad on April 17, 23, 29 and 30, 11 people fell to their death.
On May 3, India rejected a Pakistani offer for talks. On May 9 and 10, 16 persons were killed in Malir. In Hyderabad, 25 persons were killed on May 15, 17 and 19. Following the death of 80 more persons in Karachi and Hyderabad on May 26 and 27, curfew was clamped. One of the victims in Karachi was Senator Mohsin Siddiqui, who was killed for resisting paying protection money. 28 more persons were killed on May 28, while 20 persons were killed on May 29. On May 30 and 31, 73 persons were killed.
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan proposed the holding of an all-parties conference on Sindh situation on June 6. MQM did not participate in this conference. By June 3, the number of deaths caused by terrorist attacks rose to 150.
On July 1, Gen. Beg said that the army could restore peace in Sindh in a short time. On July 13, 45 persons were killed in a bomb blast in Hyderabad.
Pakistan Steel Mills also passed into a state of unprecedented anarchy. MQM was once again accused of carrying out acts of mass murder through its terrorist wing called Black tigers. The kidnapped workers and officers of Pakistan Steel could only be released after the intervention of commander 5-Corps, Gen. Asif Nawaz.
On August 22, acts of firing on MQM reception camps all over the city resulted in the killing of 27 persons. 55 persons were injured in these attacks.
After a brief lull, masked gunmen reappeared on the streets of Karachi and Hyderabad, killing three and six persons respectively on September 8. Two more persons died in Hyderabad on September 10. There was heavy firing in the city on that day, and a petrol pump and a government office were set on fire. On September 17, Hamid Imtiaz Hanif, son of the State Bank governor, was kidnapped.
On October 19, the cloth merchants of Mah#### Market in Karachi's Saddar area paid dearly for removing the flag of a linguistic party from the top of the building. 82 shops in the market were gutted in a huge fire.
The type of political and social tendencies, which MQM displayed during 1990, was in no way suitable to the national interests of Pakistan. It not only antagonized other communities, but also persecuted those Urdu speaking people who either opposed it actively, or were simply not interested in its politics. It embarked on the mission of creating a state within the state.
The fact that MQM resorted to terrorism as a means of achieving anti-state objectives is clear to everyone who saw it grow from rags to riches in a short span of five years. It is not a mere coincidence that:
MQM was a regular party to all the incidents of blood letting that took place in Karachi and Hyderabad since 1986
Nowhere was the Urdu speaking population found involved as a community in racial killings, which remained the exclusive handiwork of its armed workers
All the Urdu speaking, Punjabi, Pukhtoon, Sindhi and Baloch victims of terrorism in Sindh were killed because of their race.
Five years of MQM also showed it to be a party, which avoided solutions to people's problems as a consistent strategy of heightening alienation. MQM's attacks on Pakistan's integrity, and the kind of violent reactions it displayed to every move the Pakistani government made over the Kashmir problem inevitably put this party in an unpatriotic frame, out to carry India's cause through the heart of Pakistan.
MQM's most favorite pill for its voters is the rhetoric that it wants to eliminate Waderas and feudal lords from Pakistani politics.
On December 9, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced in Sanghar a grant of Rs 10 billion for Sindh. On December 11, in MQM's Liaquatabad rally, he announced Rs 7 billion for Karachi. N December 17, the Jam-MQM government terminated the services of 32 assistant commissioners and 18 DSPs.
1991
Having settled in the corridors of power, MQM caused to set in the worst period of tyranny and persecution in the history of Sindh. It persecuted the press, destroyed political rivals with impunity, and organized a huge force of extortionists to discipline people and raise funds for the party. Dividing between them the affairs of urban and rural Sindh, Altaf Hussain ran the province of Sindh according to the menial whims and wildest fancies.
This was also the year when for the first time dissent within the MQM grew open and strong. Afaq Ahmad and his friends were declared traitors and their sentence specified. The slogan "Quaid's traitor deserves death" became the graffiti of every wall and the banner of every apartment house. MQM's death squads were pulled back from the fronts against other races and turned against their own people.
Altaf Hussain's own nerves creaked under the threat of dissent, and he left Nine-Zero to take refuge in Abbasi Shaheed hospital on the ruse of a bad kidney. Security matters were taken back from the increasingly suspect party organization and placed in the care of more loyal APMSO. As the crisis grew, so did the need to enhance personal charisma. This was when the stories of miracles in Saudi Arabia got currency, and the "saint" leader's images, complete with the mustaches and dark sunglasses, started appearing on tree leaves and mosque tiles.
To convince the Punjabis of the spellbinding power of the Pir over his followers, a group of 37 MQM MNAs and MPAs was dispatched to Lahore Press Club to read before the journalists a written oath of allegiance. The test, which was not allowed to be circulated in Karachi, repeatedly referred to the "blind faith" of individual members in the leadership of Altaf Hussain.
The press conference was held on July 25, a day after Lahore high court ordered the release of Afaq Ahmad and others. The press conference went on for two and a half hours, and all this while a telephone was available to Altaf Hussain in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital to hear the proceedings live (dailies Jang and Nawa-I-Waqt Lahaore, July 26, 1991). All the 37 members individually read their oaths before the newsmen. Dr Farooq Sattar said, "if I commit treachery against the Qauid, I will have denied my paternity". Wasim Ahmad said, "if I go against the Qauid. I may not be of my mother" (daily Nawa-I-Waqt Lahroe, July 26, 1991).
When the newsmen objected that they could not sit through the statements, which were more or less alike, some MQM members retorted by saying, "once we get a foothold in Lahore, then you will sit and listen, like they do in Karachi". This led to a number of journalists walking out of the press conference in protest.
Late in the evening of July 27, Pir Pagara's sin-in-law, Salim Malik, was assassinated while returning from Gadani. The poor man died because the assassins thought it was Afaq Ahmad and his friends entering into Karachi from Balochistan. Two days later, the police for the murder arrested MQM terrorist, Iqbal Chand.
1991 was, therefore, the year in which it became clear that MQM would not change its character, no matter who ruled the country. It showed itself to be a pressure group, which used Mohajirs to blackmail governments for attaining individual objectives and eliminating opponents. It launches bloody movements against governments, which wouldn't pay it any attention, and keeps on tenterhooks those which are willing to get cozy.
MQM's bully also took Karachi's press to task. When the press started reporting even half-truths about MQM, the gunmen went into action. Known journalist Maulana Salahuddin's house was set on fire long before he was finally assassinated. Daily Dawn, eveninger "Star" and monthly "Herald" were prevented from distribution. Copies of dailies" Jang" and "The News" were burnt in thousands, and MQM chairman, Azim Tariq, openly threatened journalists when he said in a public meeting that they should "keep their Ka'aba in the right direction". Zafar Abbas, Kamran Khan, Nafisa Hoodbhai and other journalists were attacked.
During this year, when MQM was in power and had its ministers both in Islamabad and In Sindh, 27 police officers that refused to sidestep the law were murdered. They included inspector Mohammad Usman, inspector Malik Ehsan, Kazim Soomro etc.
This year the MQM fought its political rivals on two fronts. One was opened against Islami Jamiatut-Talaba (IJT) and the other against the dissenters within its ranks. On both fronts, the "enemies" were either jailed or dismissed as dacoits and got killed.
On January 3, the Jam-MQM cabinet decided to set up four special courts in Sindh. Following the death of Shaukat Shah and ahead of the senate elections on January 11.
On February 20, MQM's 28 MPA's expressed their confidence in altaf Hussain's leadership by submitting their resignations to chairman Azim Ahmad Tariq. On February 21, the federal government indefinitely postponed the holding of population census.
On March 3, dissent within the MQM surfaced when the party expelled its provincial minister, Badar Iqbal on charges of financial embezzlement. Daily Dawn was warned to mend its ways and not to publish the statements of MQM's opponents. On March 19, MQM's armed hooligan robbed 21,000 copies of the newspaper. On March 21, in protest over MQM's excesses against hawkers, daily Dawn suspended its publication.
On April 30, the two Japanese students who had been kidnapped for ransom 45 days ago recovered. On July 17, MQM dissented Afaq Ahmad, Aamir Khan, Naim Akhtar, Iqbal Qureshi, Mohammad ounus and Naim Hashmat were arrested in Lahore. On September 29, journalists all over the country observed black day to protest over MQM attacks on newsmen. On October 1, terrorists bombed the house of known journalist, Mohammad Salahuddin, and put on fire. On October 11, the kidnapped Chinese engineers were recovered. On October 16, MQM's Tariq Javed was appointed the acting chief minister of the province following Jam Sadiq's departure to London for treatment is returned in November.
On December 31, Altaf Hussain spent his last day in Pakistan. On an early morning flight on January 1, 1992, he left for England never to come back.
Since Altaf Hussain's arrival in England, he is operating his terrorist organization from London under the coverage of Muthaidda Qaumi Movement.
1992
Criminal activities by MQM, the outrages of its extortionists called the "Bhatta Mafia", unabashed blackmailing of the trading and business community, relentless subversion of the law, and the growing incidence of deaths in the city's torture cells forced the Nawaz Sharif government to order a military operation against "dacoits and terrorists" in Sindh. Sindh government endorsed this operation, but MQM leaders Azim Tariq, Salim Shahzad and Dr Imran Farooq objected to the word "terrorists" as one of the targets of this operation, demanding that it should be repealed.
The operation was launched on May 28, 1992, and soon afterwards MQM severed all ties with the masses, going underground to start building its anti-state fighting force. In the meantime, the government filed cases of murder, kidnapping and larceny against Altaf Hussain on six different occasions. In view of the seriousness of the situation, Altaf Hussain, who was already residing in London, applied for political asylum in the USA, but the request was turned down.
Soon the "non-political, unarmed" crusaders of five years ago had turned into a band of hooligans who were armed to their teeth, sniffing into every nook and corner of this huge metropolis in search of dissent and opposition. Their exploits became more than evident when following the onset of army operation, daily Dawn's Ghulam Hasnain picked a dusty piece of human nose from one of MQM's erstwhile torture cells in Landhi. So that's what they had been up to, chopping off noses and ears, and then hanging the victims or putting them before the firing squads.
On December 15, 1995, an increasingly worried Altaf Hussain announced to quit politics. "I am retiring from politics today, it has given me much pain", he said. But as the underground fighting network began to shape up, Altaf was back on the scene, and his deputy Javed Langrha was already shouting directives to party activists from across the border in New Delhi.
The fighting force that was put together in the back alleys of Karachi was based on a working system of logistics, communications and publicity, including regular and cellular telephone links between Karachi, London, Africa and Delhi, and the services of some capitalists, some city hospitals, some telephone department personnel, some loyalists in the city police and some journalists of local morning and evening newspapers. This force showed some speed by using the local police to abort the actions of operation personnel, but the more it stayed underground, the freer the Karachi press got. When Nawaz Sharif government registered criminal cases against Altaf and his cohorts, and relatives of the victims of MQM's torture cells took out processions, MQM- (A) found itself isolated on the political scene.
During its stay in Karachi, the army not only recovered a considerable number of firearms during siege and search operations, it also saved a number of victims from dying in MQM's torture cells in Landhi and Lines Area. No innocent person was either jailed or otherwise persecuted during the entire army operation, and this is why MQM has not been able to build a case of human rights violations against the army, although it tried its level best to give the army a bad name.
MQM had two good reasons to defame the army: first, its favorite army chief, General Mirza Aslam Beg, who was at the center of MQM's grand designs to capture absolute power in the country, was no more in the saddle, having failed to convince the political leadership to give him an extension, and second, MQM's attacks on the army gave a cushion to Delhi based Javed Langrha in winning Indians' backing. The year 1992 brought a quick downfall to MQM, which had attained the glory just as quickly.
On February 13, 1992, when MQM was still in power in Karachi although its leader was settling down for an indefinite stay in London, Shujaat, the cousin of Line Area's Haqiqi leader Mansoor Chacha, was killed. Another person, Mohammad Asif, was injured in the same area when miscreants fired on Rangers. On February 24, Jamaat-e-Islami's senator, Prof Khurshid Ahmad, stated that had forcefully induced 6,000 men in Pakistan Steel Mills. Nusrat Mirza, a leader of Mohajir Rabita Council, said if way was paved for Altaf Hussain's return to the country, there would be more bloodshed in Karachi.
Two police personnel were killed in Nazimabad on March 23. On April 21, a Haqiqi activist, Sami, was killed in Liaquatabad. On May 5, a Karachi industrialist, Azhar Iqbal, was killed. On May 9, five persons were killed in a Hyderabad hospital. On May 17, Aga Khan Foundation's Ashiq Ali Hirji was kidnapped. His fate is yet to be known.
On May 19, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held parleys with the new chief minister of Sindh, Muzaffar Hussain Shah, and the Corps commander Karachi, on how to control the situation in the province. Later the same evening, the Prime Minister met with Altaf Hussain during a brief stopover in London. On June 4, the army came into Sindh. On June 19, to preempt possible clashes between the two MQM groups, army came into Karachi and imposed curfew. The entire MQM leadership went underground.
On June 22, cases were filed against 13 persons including Altaf Hussain. On June 24, the army opened for general public a huge torture cell in Landhi. The same day the Karachi administration asked the people to demolish iron gates erected by MQM all over the city. On June 27, MQM revoked its agreement with the Nawaz Sharif government. On June 29, MQM members resigned their seats in the national and Sindh assemblies. On July 13, 12 MQM MPAs said they had submitted resignations under duress. On July 19, Sindh chief minister in an announcement dissociated from MQM. He told a press conference that Altaf would be arrested and put on trial.
On September 8, police inspector Bahadur Ali arrested two MQM terrorists, Khalid and Asif Lala. They admitted to have assassinated the provincial election commissioner's son and councilor Anwaar Ahmad.
On November 7, MQM's union chief in Pakistan Steel, Khalid Murtaza, was arrested on the charges of illegal confinement of some persons the previous year. Ashfaq Chief, a notorious assassin who was also arrested alongwith Murtaza, said, "I considered MQM to be the party of the oppressed, but I was made to do bad jobs. I repent".
On November 27, MQM chairman Azim Tariq surfaced from underground. He said "Altaf Hussain may disown me, he may call me a traitor, it is up to him, but God damn it, he has turned Karachi into a pond of blood" (Dailies Qaumi Akhbar, and Nawa-e-Waqt Lahore).
1993
On December 15, Altaf Hussain announced his retirement from politics. On December 24, a spokesman of the army said that action against terrorists had been completed. But the year 1993 furnished further proof of Altaf Hussain's slippery cunning. He was not to renounce politics, nor allow the army to return to barracks without any damage. Lost pirdom had to be regained, more so when all it required was to draw more blood - and more publicity. Once he had taken pride in Azim Tariq, now he wanted him eliminated. He experimented with Rabita Committee to run party affairs, and brought up Senator Ishtiaq Azhar (who is back in the background).
Elections were once again held in 1993, this time under the supervision of Moeen Qureshi's caretaker government. Altaf Hussain boycotted the elections, then he participated in it, so that he missed the national assembly polls, but relented in time for elections to Sindh assembly. The early days of 1993 had proved beyond doubt that MQM politics consisted in rioting, terrorism and eliminating political dissenter, and that the only concern of the party remained the individual interests of its leaders. Renouncing politics, and then revoking the renunciation, was both dictated by personal interests. It also became increasingly clear during this year that Altaf Hussain will not return to the country.
Attention was drawn to this following Murtaza Bhutto's return to the country after 16 years of exile. Many people thought Altaf, too, should make a comeback, but Altaf only contented himself with asking people in his telephonic addresses whether he should come back. Towards the end of 1993, MQM began to move its fighting network against the government and still continues on that path. Meanwhile, whatever little politics its leaders in Karachi are playing is meant to save there own skin; if they withdraw the drill machine of one terrorist or another might turn them cold.
Four basic features marked MQM activities during 1993:
They failed to gain the advantage for an Urdu speaking individual or community
They failed to promote trust and understanding with other parties
They failed to show MQM as an organized and active political opposition
They failed to promote democratic values.
On the contrary, the group used its leverage to restore peace in Karachi to demand particular ministerial portfolios, other concessions and the withdrawal of criminal cases against some of its leaders. The idea was to return to the era of mass plunder by the likes of M.A. Jalil and Ishratul Ebad. MQM is trained in using terrorism and destruction as its only political weapons, and which had no respect for civilized, enlightened politics.
On February 10, 1993, 13 persons were killed in a bomb attack in Kotri. On February 12, Azim Tariq excused himself from joining forces with Haqiqi. On March 12, Altaf Hussain revoked his decision to renounce politics, and announced that since Azim Tariq had breached his confidence, he was handing the party to the care of the Rabita Committee.
On March 14, DIG Jails was killed in a parcel bomb attack. On March 18, Azim Tariq courted arrest. Two days later he was released on bail. On May 1, he was assassinated by terrorists led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Hashamuz Zafar (Khalid is presently living with Altaf Hussain in London). On May 4, Tareq Javed was elected the new chairman of the party. On September 18, Haqiqi called a citywide strike. On October 1, MQM announced its decision to boycott elections. Altaf Hussain reiterated this position on October 4. On October 7, the group reversed its decision and announced that it will participate in the provincial polls.
On October 25, the new chief minister of Sindh, Syed Abdullah ordered to create the new district of Malir in Karachi division. Altaf Hussain used this decision as a plank to shape his new fighting strategy against democracy. True to his Hitlerian elements, Altaf was once again flexing muscles to bring terrorism in Karachi.
1994
MQM spent Rs 30 million of its ill-earned money on more or less fifty telephonic addresses made by Altaf Hussain from London during 1994. Since MQM never encouraged questions, no one among Altaf's telephonic audience had the thought or the courage to ask where this money came from, or to what end was it being used? It was being used to sow the seeds of separatism in people's minds.
The spell of the telephonic addresses was carried to the public at large during the funeral procession of Tanvir Ahmad, an MQM activist killed in an encounter with the police. The mourners chanted the slogans of "break Pakistan", which were shown to the world by India's ZeeTV on February 20, 1994. Earlier, newspapers had reported another slogan gaining currency among the party rank and file: Formula for peace in Sindh, "half for you, half for us".
On February 11, 1994, while addressing on phone the party workers in Azizabad, Altaf Hussain had said that the establishment of Malir district was a sign of slavery for Mohajirs, and that Mohajirs would rather die than being enslaved. We cannot live in this kind of Sindh", he further said. On February 18 Altaf telephonically addressed sympathizers in Karachi's Hasrat Mohani Hall. He asked them, "how long will you wait, how will you live"? The audience responded, "half for you, half for us". The boycott of daily Jang was announced in this meeting and it was decided that hawkers would not be permitted to distribute Jang the next morning.
On March 3, MQM MPA Arif Siddiqui tried to attack MQM's estranged member, Shamim Ahmad, inside the assembly building. Local bodies' minister, Nadir Magsi, prevented the attack by coming in the way. The scheming MQM's members later tactfully drew his armed guards into an ugly conflict. Although Nadir Magsi tried his utmost to avoid scandalous fallout, defending an overtly offensive Arif Siddiqui against his own guards, MQM had succeeded in creating an issue (The Frontier Post Lahore, March 4, 1994).
MQM activists burnt three vehicles in protest over this incident, and killed two persons in Liaquatabad where an Eid bazaar was in progress. Four persons were wounded in that attack. Life was disrupted in Karachi. Three days later, an MQM death squad, headed by Kamran Jaffery, put five Rangers and police officials, including a captain of Pakistan Army, against the wall in Baldia town and pumped hundreds of bullets into them. The group later shamelessly denied any involvement in this incident. In order to boost its strength, MQM called a strike on March 27 in which tree persons were killed and 17 vehicles burnt.
On April 13, on a telephonic address to audience in Azizabad's Khurshid Begum Complex, Altaf Hussain said, "If Sindh is divided, we won't be responsible for it". He further said: "Friends. Listen to me carefully. Those of you who were given receipts for contributions should deposit the sums with sector incharge. If the sector people are listening let them send it to me in London. Some sectors haven't sent me their zakat and fitra deposits. If you don't send it, you won't get new receipts. Understand? For God's sake expedite the transfer of money, these contributions are the secret of our success. And listen, help the circulation of daily "Amn". Read every word of the statements published in this newspaper. And one more thing, our comrades are in jails. Send contributions for them too. I want to help them.
On April 26, MQM launched is campaign to offer voluntary arrests, but it fizzled out in three days. On April 29, two persons were killed during a clash between the police and MQM activists. Many policemen were wounded in the clash. During yet another telephonic address, the Pir who cast his spell from across seven seas was saying, "carry your excesses to the limit. But Mohajirs will not break. Sindh will break".
Up to May 4, six people died in rioting in Gulbahar, Nazimabad and elsewhere in the city. On May 26, MQM staged a demonstration in Washington.
On June 11, MQM restarted firing in the city. Three persons were killed in Landhi on June 12. On June 20 a local court issued un-bailable warrants of arrest against Altaf Hussain and others in the murder case of Senator Mohsin Siddiqui. On June 28, MQM operatives killed SHO Bahadur Ali alongwith six other policemen.
In July, attacks on mosques and Imambargahs in Karachi started taking place. On July 13, six persons were killed in an attack on a bus. On July 24, four persons, including a cop and an Edhi Trust volunteer, were killed in an attack on Imambargah Kashmiri. MQM Haqiqi's finance secretary, Sardar Ahmad, was killed on August 8. In reaction to this, trouble broke out in Karachi Central and East in which two persons were killed and nine vehicles put on fire. Factional clashes led to three more deaths on August 11. On August 17, unidentified assailants killed notorious terrorist, Ashraf Langrha. On August 18, six dead bodies, stuffed in gunny bags, were recovered form different parts of the city.
On September 10, Altaf Hussain sated that "Mohajirs want their geographical boundaries to be determined" (Qaumi Akhbar). On September 17, eight, persons died in incidents of indiscriminate firing in different parts of Karachi. On September 26, three persons were arrested and 49 weapons recovered during an operation in Lines Area. 320 weapons were recovered during a search operation in Korangi.
On October 1, in an interview with the Voice of America, Altaf Hussain said: "Although we have only invited suggestions on a separate province, a new province will be in the interest of the country" (daily Amn, Oct 2, 1994). In another statement the following day, Altaf said that the creation of a new province would result in everyone getting his due rights.
On November 11, firing in Gujjar Nala, Abbasi Shaheed and Gulbahar areas led to the killing of eight persons, including an officer of Pakistan Air Force. On November 19, continuing violence in Liaquatabad and Korangi resulted in the death of 12 persons, including a police constable. 21 persons were injured. Police and army vehicles also came under attack.
In December 1994, 49 persons were killed, including 10 police officials. Police paid a heavy price for fighting terrorism in Karachi in 1994. 70 policemen were killed during this year, which also saw the death of six Rangers and four army personnel. Government officials remained the targets of terrorist, and it was a harassed and demoralized police force that took over after the army pulled out on November 30, 1994.
1995.
But while a new official strategy was soon to lift the police's morale and place it on a higher ground against a weakening terrorist outfit, the latter diversified its targets in order to preserve its leftover strength. This augured ill for those laborers who had come to Karachi from such far-flung areas as Hazara, Faisalabad and Khushab to earn a living. They became the targets of a new look strategy of terrorism in 1995.
Apart from this, Karachiites also saw the worst form of religious fanaticism emerge on Karachi's political scene, and then die its own death, in 1995. Hundreds of people died in terrorist attacks in the first ten months of this year.
As many as 433 persons died in the first three months of 1995 alone. The victims included 234 nonpartisans, 56 TNFJ activists, 49 Haqiqi activists, 38 activists of Sipah-e-Sahaba, 28 activists of MQM and 28 Rangers and police personnel.
The holy month of Ramzan in 1995 began with the killing of three persons including two women. On February 4, 11 persons were killed in terrorist attacks in Gulberg, Hyderabad Colony and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. On February 5, the government Pakistan observed a solidarity day with the Kashmiris, and rallies were held all over the country to back the Kashmiris' cause. But MQM refused to take part in it. On the contrary, it embarked on a retaliatory campaign, leading to the death of 20 persons in different acts of terrorism in the city.
The dead included 11 workers of the Harkatul Ansaar organisation who were manning a Kashmir day camp in Liaquatabad. Six persons were killed on February 7, three persons died in factional fighting on February 10, and two persons were killed on February 11. On February 13, masked gunmen shot dead 11 persons, including five children. Five persons, including a Haqiqi activist, were killed on February 15, while three persons were shot dead near Nazimabad's Gol Market on February 16. On February 17, three persons including an MQM activist were killed. On February 18, 10 persons, including four Shia brothers, were killed. On February 19, three persons were killed, including a sub-editor of weekly Jhalak magazine.
Seven persons were killed on February 20,three on February 21, five on February 22,and three on February 23. Senator, Shafqat Mahmood, in a statement condemned MQM leader Anwar Khan's close working with the Indian delegation during Geneva conference, and called upon the MQM either to disown Anwar Khan or admit to its links with the Indian government. Seven persons were killed on February 24. 25 more were killed on February 25, including 20 worshippers in a city Imambargah. Four persons were killed on February 27. ON February 28, president of Mehran Bank, Younus Habib, was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment for embezzling more than two billion rupees, including Rs 140 million, which he had paid to Mirza Aslam Beg.
On March 1, Altaf Hussain vowed that he would never allow Karachi to become a city of Punjab. He said that bad days were yet in store for the city. On this day, two PSF workers were killed. On March 2 (the eve of Eidul Fitr), seven persons were killed PECH Society. On Eid day, two Haqiqi activists were shot dead in the Jamshed Quarters area. The next day an MQM activist was killed. Nine persons were killed on March 5, including a Rangers sleuth, three police officials and five Haqiqi activists. On March 6, four persons were killed including a police constable. Two police officials were among the six persons killed on March 7.
On March 8, terrorists killed seven persons including two officials of US consulate. Ten persons were killed on March 9. On March 10, the black Friday, 21 people were killed, including eight children who died in a bomb blast near Malir's Hussainia mosque. Four persons were killed on March 11. On March 12, MQM activists' raid on Haqiqi's Pak Colony office resulted in the death 12 persons. Four more persons were killed on March 13. Three persons died on March 17, five on March 18 and two on March 19. Two persons were killed on March 20, and three including a cop, were killed on March 21. The same day the government announced to launch action against terrorists in Karachi. Sindh government held an all parties' conference for the restoration of peace in Karachi, but MQM refused to attend. Two persons were killed on March 26, two on March 27, and three on March 28.
In the month of April, 88 persons were killed in terrorist attacks, factional fighting and police encounters. The victims included 26 nonpartisans, 21 personnel of law enforcing agencies, 13 activists of MQM, 13 Haqiqi activists, 11 activists of Sipah-e-Mohammad, four activists of Sipah-e-Sahaba and one PPP activist.
Clashes between the two MQM groups intensified during April. The April 24 police actin against MQM to vacate its occupation of Mir Garden in Hyderabad prompted the group to intensify its action against the government officials as well. Rocket launchers came in use for the first time in these months, and government properties as well as Rangers check posts were targeted with these heavy weapons.
Altaf Hussain in a statement said that constitution be amended to pave the way for his party's demands. MQM terrorist, Zahid Andha, was arrested on April 8. He was responsible for burning a Blue Lines coach, and with it seven passengers, near Al-Karam square in Liaquatabad. On April 18, terrorists killed eight persons in North Nazamabad, including four Haqiqi activists. On April 25, 15 private and government vehicles were set on fire in Hyderabad. On April 27, 16 vehicles, a post office and a pumping station were burnt in Hyderabad. On April 29, terrorists raided a Rangers checkpoint, the Rangers' camp and a police station, killing one police ASI.
In May 1995, 35 personnel of law enforcing agencies were killed. Other victims of terrorism included 72 nonpartisans, 16 activists of MQM 7 Haqiqi activists and four activists of PPP. Most victims were kidnapped, tortured, killed, and their bodies dumped in various parts of the city. These incidents started in May, and continued into July, 289. Of these, 434 were nonpartisans. 52 members of the law enforcing agencies, 29 activists of MQM, 19 Haqiqi activists.
35 persons were killed and 89 vehicles burnt during the first five days of June. Pushto speaking people suffered the most losses in terms of property. They protested, and MQM had to issue a statement from London telling his activists not to burn transport, but to continue with the strikes. This was a most significant statement. Altaf ordered an end to the burning of transport. If his activists were not involved in arson, as his party leaders have been asserting time and again, he would have no need to issue such a directive.
On May 5, the US consulate announced that in future it would issue visas from Lahore. The reason cited for this decision was terrorism in Karachi. On the Eidul Azha day (May 10), terrorists attacked Shah Faisal police station, killing one police constable. Seven persons, including Rangers personnel, were killed on May 12. On May 14, Pakistan announced that it would observe a black day on May 19 in protest over the desecration of Charar Sharif shrine in Kashmir. On the eve of the black day, on May 18, terrorists in citywide attacks killed 15 persons, including a Rangers officer. Also, arsonists put on fire five vehicles and a saving center. On May 19, MQM remained quite. It called a mourning day on May 22. Acts of terrorism on the eve of the day led to the killing of five persons and the burning of several vehicles. On the day itself, terrorists killed 23 persons, including 4 policemen, Rangers personnel and a PPP activist.
In the month of June, MQM embarked on a strategy to ignite linguistic riots all over Sindh. Though the strategy failed to pay dividends, many Karachi based persons with families in the interior Sindh or elsewhere in the country lost their lives in the process. In this connection, a group of MQM terrorists raided the KDA registration office in Liaquatabad's Supermarket area. 10 Sindhi-speaking officials were isolated from the rest of the staff, and shot dead. MQM terrorists Rehan Kana and Saeed Cheetah were involved in this operation. The story was almost entirely told by a local evening paper, Awam, on that day, but complete details came to light after the arrest of Saeed Cheetah and his subsequent narrative before the press in Islamabad.
The Supermarket incident blew up in the face of MQM. The party stood exposed and a feeling of resentment was unmistakably rising among the people. MQM countered this by hitting at a tender spot of people's psyche. It engineered the dishonoring of women in a series of incidents to appease public opinion. The first to suffer this ignominy was Farzana Sultan. MQM alleged that more than men ****d her on June 22. Medical reports drawn by both the Sindh government and the Aga Khan hospital.
These reports are attached in end of this report. However, negated MQM version. But this did not stop MQM from calling for day of mourning with its concomitant loss of human life and property. A close associate of late Azim Tariq and a potential witness of his murder case, S.M. Tariq, was killed during this unrest MQM promptly laid the blame on official agencies. On June 25, the government was served a 48-hour notice to arrest the molesters of Farzana and the killers of S.M. Tariq. On June 26, Rabita Committee announced a weekly strike on Fridays and Saturdays with the express purpose of crippling the country economically.
Between January and June 1995, police killed 57 terrorists and arrested 319 others in 143 encounters. On June 1, bomb blasts took place in Sindh Assembly and Lyari area. Rocket attacks were launched against the police in Orangi. On June 2, terrorists hit and blasted several electric transformers in Karachi Central, besides setting 25 vehicles on fire. 38 more vehicles were burnt on June 3. On June 4, 10 persons were killed and 20 vehicles set on fire. Life in Karachi Central came to a standstill, and daily wage earners girded their loins to face another spell of starvation. On June 5, seven persons were killed and 17 vehicles burnt. Ten persons, including five policemen, were killed on June 10. A child was killed in an RPG attack in Clifton area on June 11.
Nine persons were killed, including two policemen. On June 15, 24 persons were killed, including the 10 Sindhis who were lined up and shot in the KDA registration office located at 3rd floor of Super market in Liaquatabad. RPGs again figured on June 21. Ten persons were killed. On June 22, Farzana Sultan was brought to Karachi Press Club at 9:30 p.m. for a press conference. On June 24, terrorists burnt four bogies of Chanab Express, and robbed the weapons they were carrying for Rangers in Karachi. 30 persons were killed and 23 vehicles burnt on June 25.
Law enforcing agencies came into action in July. Government issued orders that terrorist control over some government property and a number of private houses in Korangi area be vacated. On July 5,6, 13 and 24, the police engaged terrorists in encounters, killing 10 and arresting 6. Property and arms recovered from these terrorists included 11 stolen vehicles and two motorbikes, two wireless sets, a klashnikov, a rocket launcher, four rifles, two pistols, a repeater gun and 559 rounds of ammunition. An operation of the same nature was conducted in Orangi on July 2, 5, and 23 in which 55 criminals, including 31 Bengalis, were arrested.
MQM called violent strikes on June 30, July 1, 7, 8 and 9. On July 1, 19 persons including a police ASI were killed, while 17 more persons died on July 2, including a Rangers officer and a police constable. Six persons were killed on July 3, and six more were killed on July 4, including a woman and a cop. 11 persons died on July 5, eight on July 6, 11 on July 7, 13 on July 8, 10 on July 9, six on July 10. On July 1, 16 persons including two PPP activists, two cops, a doctor and a woman were killed. On July 12, six persons including a police ASI were killed. On July 13, 12 persons were killed including a police ASI. Four persons were killed on July 14, 10 including a PTV employee were killed on July 15, while eight persons including an army lance naik, a PPP activist and the crime reporter of daily Sang-e-Meel were killed on July 16.
On July 29, terrorists shot and killed the son of a local PML (Nawaz) leader who had in a TV appearance appreciated the Rangers' action against terrorists in Orangi. On August 2, the dreaded MQM terrorist, Farooq Dada (whom Altaf Hussain insisted on calling Farooq Patni), was killed in police encounter alongwith comrades Ghaffar Mada, Javed Michael and Babar Deputy. Police in 15 murder cases wanted Dada, which in the local Karachi slang means a bully.
In retaliation, the MQM terrorist killed 24 persons, including SDM Nawaz Khushk, on August 3. On August 6, another front ranking MQM terrorist, Fahim commando, was arrested alongwith three other terrorists. Commando was wanted in murder cases of sub-inspector Bahadur Ali, Haqiqi leader Mansoor Chacha, MQM leader S.M. Tariq two DSPs and one Ds Ranger. On August 15, another MQM terrorist, Tariq Commando, was arrested. Sindh chief minister, in a statement, termed as "sick" the terrorists who were dumping dead bodies in gunny bags.
During the month of August, MQM lost most of its topnotch terrorists either through voluntary surrender, arrest during police raids, or death in encounters with the police. MQM another morning call for August 23, in which four persons were killed and 18 vehicles set on fire. Shopkeepers pulled down shutters fearing violence, but the wheel did not jam. On August 24, 11 persons died in acts of terrorism. The victim included four residents of Jacobabad. On August 26, eight persons were brought together in a Moosa Colony house, and killed.
On September 1, MQM again fell back on the use of women to give the administration a bad name. This time a woman activist of the party, Seema Zarrin, was presented to the people as a victim of police excesses. Using this as an issue MQM called for another strike on September 4, in which five persons were killed and 12 vehicles burnt. On September 6, Karachiites celebrated the defense day with unusual enthusiasm, but MQM did not participate in these celebrations. On September 7, its terrorists struck, killing 11 persons. Another protest day was called by MQM on September 10 in which four persons, including a constable, were killed. 18 vehicles were also set ablaze. The same day, Sindh chief minister displayed a poster in the assembly, which was used by MQM in its international campaign against Pakistan.
The poster sported slogans against Pak Army. On September 16, eight persons were killed including three traffic cops, while six persons were shot dead on September 17. On September 18, five MQM terrorists were arrested following an encounter with the police. These terrorists were responsible for the Moosa Colony manslaughter. On September 20, seven persons were killed and 12 vehicles burnt to set the pace for another strike on September 21. Six more persons were killed and four vehicles torched on the day of the strike.
While MQM was still successful in paralyzing life in the city by calling frequent strikes, the backbone of its terrorist wing had been broken. Fear of terrorism remained a real one, yet some measure of confidence was being restored among the people about the ability of the government to contain MQM excesses. It was becoming increasingly clear that through frequent strike calls, common people were being made to suffer for terrorists every single one of whom had his hands stained in the blood of at least 10, and in some cases as many as 40 innocent people.
1996
On 3rd Jan, MQM called for strike in which three innocent citizens were killed and numerous vehicles were set ablaze in Karachi. (Pakistan Observer 4-1-96)
MQM gave new conditions for talks to federal government on the same day. (The Muslim 4-1-96).
On 4th Jan, MQM team including Senator Ishtiaq Azaar and Kahlid Bokhari met the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Johan Rolzeman and gave him the exaggerated view of situation in Karachi. Talking to newsmen senator said
"Today's meeting with US acting ambassador was beginning of was campaign and MQM - A leaders would continue meeting foreign ambassadors in Islamabad to put pressure on Pakistan". (The Muslim 5-1-96).
Altaf Hussain in January 1996 gave an interview to "Frontline" from London to Anjali Moday Altaf again threatened in his usual manner and said, "If anything happens, the MQM will not be responsible; "
On 17th Jan, the federal government approved MQM's, another request and granted Rs. 5 lakh for the Hasrat Mohanni Memorial library and Hall trust. It was a gesture of goodwill from the government to MQM to change its nature. (The News 15-1-96).
On the same day, rockets were fired at MQM (H) headquarters in Landhi and Haqiqi's Chief Afaq Ahmed Khan accused the MQM-A and its militants of the attack and alleged that it was carried out on the orders of self-exiled chief Altaf Hussain. (Dawn 18-1-96).
Ajmal Dehlvi came back Pakistan on 18 Jan after fifteen days visit to London.
On 29th Jan, MQM (A) demanded reconstitution of the negotiating team of the Government.
On 1st Feb, MQM, terrorist claimed the responsibility of killing at least one person personally and scores of others in collaboration with other activists on behest of Altaf Hussain. (Pakistan Observer, The Muslim, Pakistan Times 2- 2-96).
On the same day four MQM activists were arrested in Saudi Arabia who were working there. (The Muslim 2-2- 1996).
The very same day Ajmal Dehlvi warns government that MQM will disrupt world cup matches. (Frontier Post Peshawar/The Muslim Islamabad 3-2-96).
On 12th Feb Mr. Zubair Akram Nadeem (MNA & the member of the government negotiating team who was lately killed by the terrorists of same party) held talks with Ajmal Dehlavi
On 15th Feb, ex-MNA and prominent leader of MQM Kunwar Khalid Younus took another dramatic move. He was brought to the STA court situated next door to the U.S. Consulate. He sought to the policeman permission to the library and surrendered himself to consulate of seeking political asylum but US Consul-General Karachi handed over Kunwar Khalid to the SSP south. (The Nation, Pakistan Times, Nawa-e-Waqt 16-2-96).
On the same day, Syed Yareed Shahadat alias Shoaib, an MQM activists involved in the murders of at least twenty persons including the murder of Ehsan Ali Shah, brother of ex-chief minister Sindh.
Giving the details of murder of Ehsan Ali Shah he said "Nazimuddin, sector incharge of Federal B Area informed that he had got instructions from London (Altaf Hussain) to kill Ehsan Ali Shah."(The Muslim, Pakistan Times, Nawa-I-Waqt, Pakistan Observer 16-2-96).
On 19th Feb, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench for the release of Dr. Mohd Moin who was arrested in Saudi Arabia and handed over to Islamabad by Jeddah. (The Muslim 20 -2-96)
On 28th Feb 1996, 3 MQM workers confessed plan to kill religious leaders with the assistance of a sectarian group along with numerous murders and dacoities. (The Nation 29-2-96)
On 29th Feb a terrorist belonging to MQM (A) confessed that he along with other MQM (A) terrorists had been setting vehicles on fire, attacking police pickets and public and private properties on the directives issued by "nine-zero" the central headquarter of MQM (A) in Karachi, while the nine-zero used to receive such directives from Pir Sahib (Altaf Hussain) in London. (Frontier Post, Peshawar 1-3-96)
European parliament passed a joint resolution in 15th Feb which exclusively blamed MQM's two factions for the "human rights abuses and violence" in the urban centers of Sindh, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad. (The Nation 3-3-96).
On 5th March, 2 kidnapped persons were recovered from the custody of MQM men.( Pakistan Times 6-3-96)
On the same day government agreed to order a judicial inquiry into the charges leveled by MQM. (Dawn 6-3-96)
Visa sections of American Embassies discouraged the visa applications forwarded by MQM's workers (Jang 12-3-96)
On 25th March, Lahore police officially announced the arrest of 8-member gang of terrorists. The gang was said to be involved in 300 murders and several dacoities in Karachi and Lahore. The member of gang confessed the plan to sabotage the Cricket World Cup final "though they could not act upon it due to strict security measures". (The Nation, Islamabad 26-3-96).
On 27th March another MQM activist Aleem-uddin confessed 14 murders in a press conference which he did on the directives from Altaf Hussain (Nawa-I-Waqt Rawalpindi 28-3-96)
Shamim Ahmed (the Sindh health minister of that time) announced another faction of MQM, Which one is a true representative of Mohajir God knows. (The News Rawalpindi 2-4-96)
On 3rd April MQM Indian connections were once again exposed when in a seminar organized by Delhi based NGO Mohd Aris, MQM's representative "exactly playing at his master's voice went on to venom spitting spree against Pakistan, at the behest of Indian mentors. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 4-4-96)
"Pakistan Times" wrote that the singular objective of this seminar was to down play the liberation struggle in Held Kashmir.
On 9th April, four MQM terrorists were arrested in Multan, who were involved in 13 cases of murder, six cases of abduction murder and several other crimes. Those arrested admitted that they were very close to the MQM high command and involved in subversive activities, murders, arson, looting and abductions.( The Nation Islamabad Jang - Rawalpindi 10-4-96)
On 10th April another MQM terrorist Nadeem Chita got arrested from Azizabad Karachi. His name was included in the list of 39 most wanted criminals. His arrest carried the reward of Rs one million.(Pakistan Observer Islamabad 1-4-96)
On 12th April a delegation of MQM went to Geneva to attend the session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission to propagate the violations of human rights in Pakistan.
Asked by the BBC about their activities the delegation leader Mohammad Anwar said, "We have three books. The Title of one "genocide of Mohajirs" the second is "Death Warrant", and third book is a catalogue.
He added "these three books we are distributing here and we are also lobbying. There is a representation of about 152 countries at the UNIRC and we have so for contacted more than 100 countries". (Pakistan Observer Islamabad 13-4-96)
On 15th April MQM (A) unit chief held and arms recovered from him. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 16-4--96)
On 17th April a rally was held in London to press the demand for deportation of MQM-A leader Altaf Hussain. (The News Rawalpindi 18-4-96i)
During the same month once again MQM (A) used Indian-sponsored NGOs to defame Pakistan at International level. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 18-4-96)
On 7th May, ex-councilors of MQM got arrested alongwith 6 other terrorists of MQM (A). Councilors were involved in more than 25 cases of kidnapping, murder and terrorism. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 8-5-96)
On 10th May, Sindh government spokesman strongly condemned the MQM's strike on killing of terrorists and said it clearly shows the open support and patronage of terrorists by MQM (A). (Pakistan Times 11-5-96)
This strike which was called to mourn the death of five terrorists was failed to draw much response. 4 vehicles were set on fire. (Pakistan Times, Islamabad 13-5-96)
On 17th May, FIA stopped Javed Langhra's (an MQM terrorists in India) family from leaving for India because they failed to produce the necessary documents. (The Nation Islamabad, Pakistan Observer, Jang 18-5-96)
On 21st May 1996 a report was published in "The Nation" in which Khalid Qayum explained that the MQM delegation at the H.R.C. session in Geneva was conducted by two persons Ashoke Bhan and Pandita, both having "affiliation" with RAW. (The Nation 21-5-96)
On 27th May five MQM terrorists got arrested and an LMG with 250 rounds, two 7 MM rifles, five T.T. pistols and hundreds of rounds were recovered from them. (The Nation Islamabad 28-5-96)
Two MQM terrorists were arrested on I June and arms and ammunition were recovered from them including a light machine-gun along with stand and 400 rounds, 10 motor bombs, three complete rocket propelled grenade (RPG). 7 shells and 100 rounds of klashnikov from a store. (The News Rawalpindi 2-6-96)
On 9th June, 2 more terrorists of MQM (A) were arrested and two TT pistols with bullets were recovered from their possession. (Pakistan Times, Pakistan Observer 10-6-96).
On 16th June Karachi police arrested Azhar Sayyan and Naseem Pajama wanted terrorists of MQM along with two kaloshnikovs, four magazines and 42 rounds. Azhar was wanted in more than 50 cases and police in 27 cases wanted Naseem. (Pakistan Observer Islamabad 17-6-96)
On 25th June, 3 more MQM terrorists were arrested by Karachi police in two different raids and a T.T. pistol and a repeater were recovered from their possession. (The Muslim 26-6-96)
On 8th July police arrested three MQM- (A) terrorist recovered two TT pistols and a kaloshnikov from their possession. These terrorists were involved in different murder cases also. (The News, 9-7-96)
On 16th July Korangi police after an encounter arrested Amjad Chitta a notorious criminal belongs from MQM - (A) with a 30-bore pistol with four rounds. (Pakistan Observer, 17 -7-96)
On 21st August Hafiz Osama Qadri former MPA and an active member of MQM - (A) was arrested Government had announced Rs. 10 lakh. Reward on his arrest. He was nominated in more than 50 cases of murders and other crimes including attack on the house of Editor Takbeer, late Salahuddin. (The News 22-8-96)
On 26th August The Brigade police arrested 3 MQM activists involved in murder, attempted murder, robbery and to her heinous crimes. Police also recovered four Kaloshanikovs, two repeaters, one short gun and a 7MM rifle from their possessions. (The News 27-8-96)
On 1st September former MPA of MQM-A Hifiz Osama Qadri who was arrested on the charges of heinous crimes denied the allegations that he was being tortured during interrogations before the press. (The News Rawalpindi 2-9-96)
On 11th Sept a lady MPA of MQM-A Feroza Begum defected from this party and joined Sindh Cabinet and said that she was underground but she thought it better to come out and work to save her life (Pakistan Observer, The Muslim Islamabad, Dawn, Nawa-e-Waqt 12-9-96)
On 1st October 1996 The CIA and District Central Police arrested nine more activists of MQM- (A) from different areas of Karachi, recovered four hand grenades, one klashnikov and two TT pistols, one revolver and 1500 KK rounds from them. (Pakistan Observer 2-10-96)
On 5th October, Over two dozen MQM activists arrested in different encounter from different places. These persons were wanted in different cases of murder and dacoity. Arms were recovered from them. (The Nation Islamabad 6-10-96)
On 10th October four MQM - (A) men were arrested. Two of them Nadeem alias Bangali, and Yousaf alias Bal were close associates of Javed Langra (terrorist of MQM -A working with RAW). A klashnikov rifle and a TT pistol were recovered from them. (The News 11-10-96)
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) refused granting asylum to three frontline MQM (A) men including party's senior Vice Chairman Saleem Shahzad.( The News 22-12-96)
1997
On 3rd Jan, in an article in "the News" an independent news daily of our country Javed Soomro an eminent written wrote
"At the initial stage of its formation, the MQM, by virtue of being a party with massive support in the cities, came to be known as a party of the middle class.
At the ideological and practical level, the MQM, however undertook the policies and practices which were contrary to the characteristics of a middle-class party."
He further added "All over the world middle class parties have traditionally aligned themselves with democratic and progressive forces and had advocated grand alliances with suppressed classes and nationalities. MQM contrary to all these recognized characteristics, never ever attempted to provide leadership to the vast majority of suppressed rural population". (The News 3-1-97)
On 18th Jan, the government of Sindh ordered release of two MQM senators Aftab Ahmed Shaikh and Mrs. Nasreen Jalil on parole. (Dawn, The Muslim 9-1-97 )
Political relief to MQM-A of contesting elections was given and release of its leaders on parole is one of a goodwill gesture in this regard. (Pakistan Observer 20-1-97)
It is ironical that MQM demanded disarmament of all political groups.(The Muslim, 20-1-97)
On 19th Jan, Dr Farooq Sattar got released on parole. (The News, 20-1-97)
On 20th Jan, MQM's National Assembly candidate from Rahim Yar Khan Javed Mazari was arrested along with one MQM worker. (The Muslim 21-1-97)
The election campaign of same MQM who not only a week before demanded to disarm all the political groups in Karachi, took bloody turn as both factions of MQM resorted to violence against each other. Many people were shot dead and both factions blamed each other for shooting and killing people. (Pakistan Observer 26-1-97)
On one hand MQM-A put the allegation of worst rigging in Karachi during elections (The Muslim)
On the other hand on the base of same election results they started trying for Chief Minister slot in Sindh. (The News 18-2 97).
On 12th April, three MQM (H) workers killed and one injured in different incidents of terrorism by the rival faction MQM (A). (The News Rawalpindi 13-4-97)
On 14th April, Karachi once again apprehended by a bitter faction fighting between two MQM factions. (Frontier Post Peshawar 15-4-97)
On 16th April, two MQM (H) activists killed by MQM (A) activists. (The News, Rawalpindi 16-4-97)
On 2nd May, over 500 MQM (H) activist rounded up. (The Nation Islamabad 3-5-97).
On 4th May, 70 more Haqiqi activists arrested. ( Nation Islamabad 5-5-97).
On 17th May 1997 Akhtar Payams wrote in an article " MQM must acknowledge realities" in DAWN in which he said,
"Fantasies have no place in politics. Daydreams may sustain some individuals for some time, but they cannot be converted into hard realities. The remaining of the MQM cannot work wonders".
On 23rd May, PML (N) MNAs from Sindh showed the signs of unrest on the" aggressive attitude" of MQM who was also the coalition partners of PML at that time. (The News, Rawalpindi 24 -4- 97)
On 10th June, 12 people killed in a wave of violence in Karachi- MQM (A) blamed for it. (The Muslim Islamabad 11-6-97).
On 17th June 1997 Altaf asks workers to close down all its liaison offices. (The Nation, Islamabad 18-6-97).
On the same day four persons shot dead in Karachi and both factions of MQM blamed each other as usual for it. (N.Waqt, Rawalpindi 18-6-97).
On 18th June, Government once again invited MQM for talks, as it believes in negotiations and non-violence. (Dawn, Karachi 19-6-97).
On 18th June, MQM wants army to replace rangers and now the same MQM criticizing rangers. (19-6-97 The Muslim Islamabad).
On 21st June, MQM asked its MNA, Kanwar Khalid to explain the statement in which he called for the deployment of troops in Karachi. (22-6-97 The News Rawalpindi).
According to an MQM press release faxed from London dated May 28th, Altaf Hussain told a party rally in Birmingham hat the MQM was neither against the army nor against any nationality of Pakistan. (24-6-97 The News, Rawalpindi).
On 29th June, one MQM (H) activist arrested on the charges of attacking MQM-A office. The Muslim Islamabad 30-6-97).
On 6th July four persons including a bridegroom killed in violence in Karachi and once again MQM (A) held responsible for it.( The Muslim, Islamabad 7-6-97).
On 8th July, PM urges MQM to increase cooperation with government once again.
On 9th July, three MQM workers arrested on Pak-Afghan border. (Jang, Rawalpindi 10-7-97).
MQM decided to oppose the anti-terrorist laws proposed by government, which wants to enforce in a bid to weed out terrorism from the country, reported B.B.C. (Nation, Islamabad 17-7-97).
Altaf Hussain summoned top MQM leadership to London for some "crucial decisions". (Pakistan Observer Islamabad 23-7-97).
In its editorial The Muslim Islamabad wrote on July 24 "After investigations stretching over many days, intelligence agencies have held the MQM (A) responsible for the murder of the KESE, Shahid Hamid, his bodyguard a driver."
On 26th July, MQM changed its face and name once again and this time renamed as (Muhttaida Qaumi Movement". (The Nation/The Muslim, Islamabad 27-7-97).
Aziz Bughio wrote in his article "what if name changed!" that change in the name is not a very optimistic thing "Unless the MQM charges its designs and approach to politics" (The Muslim, Islamabad, 3-8-97)
This all turned out to be very true. On 5th August, MQM (H) activists looked for DSP's murder. (The News, Rawalpindi 6-8-97).
On 14th August, MQM rejected bill on terrorism. (Dawn, Karachi 5-8-97)
MQM's armed terrorists kidnapped the workers of Jamaat Islami and left near graveyard after threatening and torturing them. (Jasarat Karachi, 2-9-97).
On 7th September, Syed Ishtiq Azhar, Convenor, coordination committee been renamed from part convenership on serious violations of party disciplines. (The Muslim, Islamabad 8-9-97)
"The News" wrote on 9th September "Ishtiaq forced to resign for links with MQM-H" (The News, Rawalpindi 9-9-97).
On 10th September, 20 MQM Haqiqi activists arrested. (The Muslim Islamabad 11-9-97)
Ishtiaq reactivates Mohajir Rabita Council, which was merged, with the Altaf led MQM way back in 1991. (The News, Rawalpindi 12-9-97).
On 14th September, Ishtiaq Azhar alleged that he was forcibly removed from the party position because he had been opposing extortion in the name of the party. (Dawn, Karachi 15-9-97)
MQM (H) asked British government to oust Altaf Hussain alias Adolf Hitler from London. (The Nation, Islamabad 28-9- 97).
On 2nd October, MQM faction pitched battles, in which three killed, 6 vehicles set ablaze. (Frontier Post, Peshawar 3-10-97).
MQM feared Haqiqi attacks on Liaquatabad. (Dawn, Karachi 4-10-97)
On 8th October 1997 MQM-A demanded the arrest of MQM (Haqiqi) official Tehseen Zafar who had been sent by his party to open an office in London, they also called him drug smuggler. The MPAs of MQM (A) in the statement said that MQM (H) was terrorizing the residents of Landhi, Korangi, Malir and Shah Fairal colony. (Dawn 9-10-97)
On 12th October Afaq Ahmed of MQM (Haqiqi) demanded re-elections on MQM seats and said that Mohajir had rejected MQM (A) and its leader Altaf Hussain altogether. (N.Waqt, 13-10-97)
On 23rd October, Chief Organizer MQM Nizamuddin in his two-page letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair appealed to him to take action against MQM chief Altaf Hussain who was collecting money from people in the name of the poor and needy violating the charity regulations. This is to be noted that this Mr. Nizamuddin was the personal bodyguard of Altaf Hussain when he was in Pakistan. (The Nation, 24-10-97)
1998
The Nation "in its Editorial note of 10th Jan 1998 while discussing the "No Go Areas" of MQM has said, "No Go Areas was a peculiar self-defence concept to begin with but in the polarised city of Karachi this was perhaps the only way for the two rival of MQM factions from continuing to kill each other."
On Jan 10th three persons including one woman were killed while five others injured in indiscriminate firing in MQM factions clash. (The Muslim, The Nation11-1-98)
On 16th Jan. 1998 Birg. A.R. Siddiqi published a news analysis about the clashes between rival MQM groups, in which he said, serial shoot-outs and armed encounters between the workers of the mainstream (Muthaidda) and breakaway (Mohajir) MQM have made a virtual hostage of public peace in the city's predominantly Mohajir district East - and elsewhere in the Mohajir areas. Hardly a day passes without the bad news of bloody clash amanating from there.
On 10th Jan, a wayside shoot-out at the AP - Karam Square in central District claimed three killed and several wounded - all unwary commuters. The next day - Sunday 11 Jan, saw a macabre reply claiming another three killed and an equal number wounded at the Korangi Sunday Bazar."
He further said "The tit-for-tat clashes are assuming almost the dimension of tribal blood feud and vendettas.(The Nation 16 -1-98).
On 17thJan Mohajir Qaumi Movement claimed that Muthaidda's so called missing activists were staying in various countries under fake names and that name of these activists will be released to the press.
It also said "disappearance of the Muthaidda's 28 activists is nothing but a mere drama."(Frontier Post Peshawar 18-1-98).
On 1st Feb, 2 MQM (H) men were shot dead in Karachi and Muthaidda denied the charges of involvement as usual.(The News, Rawalpindi 2-2-98).
On 7th Feb Both factions of MQM exchanged fire for almost an hour in which one person was killed.(Nawa-I-Waqt,Rawalpindi 8-1-98).
On 8th, August Dr Saghir Anasari MQM's MPA narrowly escaped when fire opened by Haqiqi terrorists but one of MQM worker Mohammed Salim sustained bullet injuries.(The Muslim, Islamabad 9-8-98)
On 13th August two MQM (Haqiqi) men were gunned down in Shah Fiasal Colony of district-East in Karachi. Syed Hodi Abbas Rizvi alias Ansar Rizvi and his neighbor Syed Athar Ali Zaidi(The Nation, Islamabad 14-8-98).
On 14 August The Peshawar Police arrested an Afghan refugee from Karachi - bound Khushal Express train at Cantonment Railway station and recovered cache of sophisticated arms from his possession that he was taking to deliver to one of the MQM factions in Karachi Police recovered two heavy boxes from the possession of the accused and during search found them full of sophisticated weapons and ammunition including 10 kalashnikovs, five 30 - bore pistols, nine hand grenades, nine buses along with 10 detonators, spare magazines and 2,500 rounds of 7.62 caliber and 30 bore.(The News Rawalpindi, 15-8- 98).
On 15th August on Muhttida's call for strike 35 shapes, 50 vehicles put on fire, and seven persons including a policeman killed and nine injured.(The Nation, Islamabad 16-8-98).
MQM quits Sindh coalition (The News, Rawalpindi 27-8-98).
On August 27th MQM infighting claims more lives. Over 60 activists arrested. (The Muslim, Islamabad 28-8-98).
On 17th Oct renowned scholar and social worker ex-governor Sindh Hakim Mohd Saeed assassinated by MQM's terrorists
Arrest & Arms
recovery from MQM
workers during
December 1998 to February 1999
Dec 9, 1998
Seven @@@@ terrorists, including a bodyguard of Altaf Hussain and the killers of Azim Ahmed Tariq arrested on December 09, 1998 from different parts of Karachi.(Frontier Post ).
Dec 10, 1998
As many as 10 alleged terrorists and extortionists belonging to both factions of MQM rounded up with arms and ammunition in Karachi. (Nation Dec 11, 1998).
Dec 11, 1998
Police arrested a most wanted terrorist of MQM, Saulat Mirza, immediately after his arrival from Bangkok at Karachi airport.(Nation). Saulat Mirza has said, Altaf Hussain has directed his workers in Belgium, S. Africa and India to reach Karachi. (Asas).
The accused Saulat Mirza has confessed that Altaf Hussain and his political secretary Nusrat Nadeem have been giving directives for carrying out disruptive activities and killing of innocent citizens. Mirza, arrested on his arrival Karachi from Thailand, was suspected on involvement in the murder of two US diplomats and four American oil company workers.
DIG Police Karachi Qureshi said that during initial interrogation accused Saulat Mirza confessed killing retired Major Shahnawaz Toor, who was incharge of the American Drug Enforcement Agency in Pakistan. He stated that the accused had also owned killing of KESC managing director Shahid Hamid, SDM Nawaz Khushk, a DSR of Rangers, several police officials, a lance naik of army, and five relatives of SP Khawaja Nisar. DIG Qureshi said that the accused has also admitted killing an office bearer of PPP, Nasir Guddu. He said that an information was received that some terrorists were fleeing the country while some were coming back.
DIG Qureshi said that on receipt of this information surveillance was mounted on the arrival and departure lounges of the Karachi Airport. He said that Saulat Mirza was arrested when he returned to Karachi from Bangkok. Qureshi maintained that accused Saulat Mirza has a background of international terrorism. Saulat Mirza, who was present at the press briefing, confessed the criminal activities carried out by him and his accomplices. He said that Major ( R ) Shahnawaz Toor who was incharge of the American Drug Enforcement agency in Pakistan, was eliminated because he was "prying." Saulat Mirza said that later he came to know that Toor's killing was ordered by the MQM leadership to spoil Pakistan's relationship with America. This was also aimed at causing economic difficulties for Pakistan so that the country could be harmed. On the killing of KESC MD Shahid Hamid, he said that the deceased had served in the IMF and was arranging loans for Pakistan and for this reason he was eliminated.
Saulat Mirza also spoke about his visits abroad and said that there are some 80 to 100 MQM boys in South Africa. He said that MQM leader Safdar Baqri went to South Africa from the US and said that he had instructions that work is to be done for the party. Baqri stated that some boys would have to go to get commando training there for carrying out disruptive activities Karachi, Saulat added. He said that many of the boys went to India and some are still there and getting training in terrorist activities. He disclosed that India was using Altaf Hussain and the MQM and it wants to break Pakistan. Saulat said that he returned to Karachi in March 98 and immediately went into hiding. On October 30 he went to Bangkok. He said he was given the task of killing the foreigners, Hussain Haqqani, Ejaz Shafi and Haleem Siddiqui. Saulat said when he was coming out of the Karachi Airport he was nabbed by the police at the taxi stand. He admitted that he had committed crimes, which are not pardonable.
Saulat said that he believed that Dr Imran Farooq was also killed by MQM partymen and added that Altaf Hussain did not tolerate any criticism and whosoever did so, was eliminated. Saulat also feared danger to the life of Dr Farooq Sattar. Accused Aslam Shaikh alias Aslam Chor (thief), who was arrested by the police from Nazimabad area, was also presented before the press. He said that in 1995 his younger brother Anwar Shaikh was killed in a rocket attack on Garden police station. Accused Aslam admitted that he was involved in attacks on police mobiles he said that in 1997 Shoaib Bukhari and Zulfiqar Haider had directed him to 'clean' SHO Aslam Hayat. He said that his conscience was pricking him and added that he was giving the statement without any pressure. DIG Qureshi said that the accused have given the statements after a few hours of interrogation. The police will also check its record, he added. (News Dec 12, 1998)
Dec 13, 1998
Another accused in Hakim Said murder case and an alleged assassin of Zuhair Akram Nadim arrested in two raids conducted by Surjani Town police and CIA Sadar respectively. Two more alleged accomplices were also arrested on being pointed by Asim, reportedly an accused in the Hakim Said murder case on a tip off police cordoned off some parts of Sector L-1 in Surjani Town of District West from where Asim was arrested. Korangi police arrested Zubair alias Landhi Wala, who according to polices has confessed his involvement in the killing saying that Asim was the first to open fire at Hakim Said from a KK rifle. On the information given by Asim raids conducted in Yousuf Goth, Surjani and Sher Shah areas. Shujauddin alias Shujoo and Habib Ullah arrested.
The main accused in Hakim Saeed case are Zulfiqar Haider, MQM MPA, Naushad alias Major Dandy, Shakir alias Langra. Zubair alias Landhi Wala, Asim, Ajzaz alias Wazir, Asif and Amirullah have been arrested. One person suspected to be Wahab Bandhani, who claims to be Hanif Kabarhi also arrested.
A CIA team raided a house in Sector 11 H, North Karachi from where Majid alias Mullah (also known as Sir) was arrested. He confessed to have killed Zuhkar Akram Nadim as well as PPP councillor and three Muslim Leaguers during interrogation, SSP CIA, Manzoor Mughal disclosed that in July 1998, terrorists belonging to Altaf Group met in Unit 77 Orangi Town where they finalised plans of assassinating Zuhair Akram Nadim' 'on July 1998, they gunned him down in Orangi when he was visiting an under construction building there. Earlier, they targeted three Muslim Leaguers near Fauji Hotel also. In May 1995 they killed Salahuddin alias Saloo, PPP Advisory Councillor and in September they killed Shahid alias Sarphata, a member of PMRC. Another alleged terrorist of MQM Aslam alias Chapta reported to be a close associate of most wanted Ajmal Pahari was arrested in Jalalabad. SHO Gulbahar Mohammad Aslam told that on a tip off, they raided a hideout located behind Subhan Bakery in Jalalabad where terrorists were hiding. The terrorists opened fire at police but retaliatory firing by police force them to flee. However, one of them, Aslam Chapta was arrested. One Kalashinkov, one 7 mm rifle, two repeaters and 3 TT pistols were recovered. Police said that Aslam Chapta was a member of Unit 18 and also was an honorary member of 'Moazzazin' committee.
SHO Gulbahar claimed that during interrogation, Aslam told them that they were planning to get back the hold of Khajji Ground area of the orders of MQM chief Altaf Hussain. He confessed Ajmal Pahari Group was involved in the killing go Zuhair Akram Nadim, Zahiruddin Babar (Jama' at-I-Islami), three Muslim Leaguers and others. The SHO further claimed that Aslam told them that Altaf Hussain always issue orders through his Secretary, Nadim Nusrat who asked Shoaib Bukhari, MQM MPA, to convey the orders to them. He also confessed to have assaulted two women whom they killed after gang **** and threw their bodies in Manghopier area.(Nation Dec 14,1998).
Dec 15, 1998
The arms used by terrorists to murder Hakim Mohammad Said recovered from a nullah near Burns Road on the pointation of an arrest accused namely Nadeem Mota, Korangi police have arrested three alleged terrorists said to be close associate of Aijaz alias Kala Munna named in over 200 heinous cases. A team of Rangers in Korangi recovered a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition. The enquiry officer of Hakim Mohammad Said case, SP Agha Mohammad Tahir ordered a raid when Nadim Mota during interrogation told the arms dumped near nullah behind Sindh secretariat. The arms seized from there included four Kalashinkovs, three TT pistols, one mauser and 300 bullets of KK rifle and pistols.(Nation Dec 16, 1998).
Dec 16, 1998
The dangerous criminal Aslam Jhapata confessed the murder of 20 people including a councillor of Jammt -e-Islami and Zohar Akram an ex MNA. According to the detail Aslam Jhapata was arrested on the 11th of December and was an active member of Mutthtida. During investigation he told the joint interrogation team that he join MQM in 1990 and when Karachi operation started in 1992 he went underground. In 1995 Pir pur police on the charges of keeping illegal weapons arrested him. In 1997 he came out from the jail and started participating in criminal activities of MQM once again.
Aslam told the investigators that in July 1998 Wasiah Jaleel called him along with Ajmal Phari, Dilwar, Jhangir Saeed to nine zero and ordered them to kill Zohair Akram. After receiving these orders they killed Zohair Akram in Orangi Town. He confessed that on the instruction of MPA Mohiuddin an sector incharge Ishtiaq, so he with the help of Zafar Nadeem Lamba and Akram Dahari Walla kidnapped five persons of Sindhi, Punjabi and Phattan nationality from different area of Orangi Town and killed them with Kalashinkov at Ghaziabad Orangi Town. On 16th June 1998 Wasiah Jaleel called Aslam Ali along with his helper at nine zero and ordered them to killed the ex councillor of Jammat-e-Islami Zaheerudin Babar. According to the report prepared by Sindh government a large number terrorist which were arrested by police after the impositions of Governors rule in Karachi has admitted that they got the training of terrorism for India.
Dec 18, 1998
Hazara Police arrested a dreaded terrorist and dacoit Raai Khan s/o Fazal Dad of MQM wanted by Karachi Police from a village of Havelian. Accused Raai Khan was also member of the gang, which murdered Hakeem Said. He was involved in several other incidents of murder and dacoity. He had committed a dacoity in Maleer Karachi in which Rs Eleven lakh were looted.(News Dec 19, 1998).
Dec 25, 1998
A prosecution witness in Hakim Said murder case on December 24, 1998 identified Amirullah Sheikh and Zubair, two activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), as the main accused involved in the killing. (News Dec 24, 1998).
Several MQM activists rounded up during siege of Korangi and its surrounding localities by law enforcement agencies. Zaman Town Police raided an abandoned house in Nasir Colony and arrested Imran alias 'Chauntees' and Imran alias Mani, both MQM activists, allegedly involved in various cases of heinous crimes. Gulbahar Police arrested Tanveer alias Chachoo and Mohammed Nasir and recovered two rifles from their possession.
The two MQM activists wanted in dozens of murder attempted murder, dacoity and kidnapping cases. The same police also arrested Tanveer, Nasir and Irfan, allegedly involved in disposing of the bodies of persons murdered at Khajji Ground. Three TT pistols also recovered from them. They admitted to disposing off 40 dead bodies. Sharifabad Police arrested Fahim alias Baryaniwala, wanted in certain criminal cases and recovered a TT pistol from him. Khawaja Ajmer Nagri Police arrested Afzal Lamba with a pistol. Afzal was wanted in four murder and firing incidents. Liaquatabad Police arrested Shakeel with a revolver.
CIA Sadar arrested Naseerullah and Khawaja Amir with two TT pistols. Mominabad Police arrested Abdul Salam and Waseem Ahmed allegedly involved in murder and kidnapping cases and recovered two pistols. Ranger and Karachi police also arrested 10 terrorist including 8 MQM activists.
A team a rangers succeeded to arrest Syed Tariq Mustafa (Arif Burger) a close companion of Ajmal Phari in a raid in Orangi town. During investigation Tariq Mustafa revealed that on the doubt of disclosing information he cut the throat of a person with the help of his friend Ehtasham in Orangi town sector 7-E lane no 6. After this he washed his hair and showed it to every one in the area so that people learn some lesson from it. Tariq Mustafa also admitted conferred to involve in some other heinous crimes including the murder of 5-labours in Ghaziabad sector 11 1/2, and of firing rocket on Sindh Secretariat. He also admitted the murder of different people in Khajji ground. Nazimabad police arrested Yousaf Chandio (Arif Dhobbi) in a raid on Paposhnagar.(NNI/Nation Dec 26,1998).
Dec 27, 1998
Rafi, alias Bubbly is an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement,on December 16, 1997 lifted a Suzuki car from House No 5 near Chandni Chowk and on the very next day abducted a first year student Ambreen from Royal Coaching Centre in Sharifabad police limits for **** and ransom. Later, he rang the parents of the abducted and asked them to manage Rs. 500,000 as ransom. The parents of that girl contacted the police and lodged a FIR into the abduction and **** of their daughter. On December 27, 1997 Bubbly was arrested by the police. (News).
Dec 28, 1998
As many as 27 accused including two Unit Incharge of the MQM were arrested as police also seized arms during their drive against criminals and 'terrorists'. SHO, Gulbahar-led police team cordoned off Muslim Centre. During houses' search, they arrested Mohammad Irfan, Incharge Unit 189, and Qaisar Abbas of MQM. Police seized TT pistols from them. (Nation Dec 29,1998).
Dec 30, 1998
New Karachi Police, after a brief encounter, arrested seven Muttahida activists involved in criminal activities and recovered arms from them.(Nation Dec 31,1998).
Dec 31, 1998
Four terrorists belonging to the MQM `confessed` the planning of assassination of the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Johannesburg during her visit to South Africa. "We also planned to create Sunni and Ismaili riots in Karachi", they further said. They were produced before reporters at Central Police Office during a Press briefing held by DIG Karachi. The DIG said that their confession proved that they wanted only to bring a bad name to Pakistan world-wide and to weaken Pakistan Surjani Town police arrested Nadim alias Civic, Irfan alias Imran, Mirza Wasee Baig and Babar Anis and recovered from their possession 3 KK including a snatched official KK rifle, two seven mm rifles, seven pistols, two revolvers, one mauser and 400 rounds.
The accused told the police that Altaf Hussain MQM chief and his Secretary Nadeem Nusrat ordered them in 1996 through Qamar Ghalib and Hamad Jilani in South Africa to kill Benazir Bhutto. But Benazir did not visit Johannesburg hence the planning failed, they said. They said since Ismailis contributed a lot to strengthen the country's economy. Hence we were ordered to kill Maulvi Akbar, who had embraced Sunni faith. This was aimed at pitting sunnis and Ismailis against each other, they said. In South Africa Qamar Ghalib and Homad Jilani extort bhatta from Memons and other traders who belong to Pakistan. One Fardia is the agent who arranges visas for visits of MQM activists from India and other countries to South Africa", they revealed. Nadim alias Civic said that more than 250 MQM activists named in heinous cases were in South Africa. (Nation Jan1,1999).
Jan 01, 1999
Anti-Terrorists Wing nabbed Iqbal from North Karachi who was reported to be the brother of Mustafa Ganja, an activist of Muttahida and was nominated in several FIRs. (Nation Jan 2,1999).
Jan 6, 1999
Karachi Pirabad Police arrested a most wanted MQM terrorist Nadeem Commando alias Street fighter from Bokhari Colony. During investigations, Nadeem Commando confessed to be involved in several under case. He is suspected to be involved in murder of an Army Police and several police personnel. (Nawa-e-Waqt Jan 7, 1999).
Jan 7, 1999
Eight Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists arrested from different areas in Karachi during search operations and arms and ammunition recovered from them. According to the detailsMohammed Asif was arrested in Nazimabad area with a pistol. He revealed that he injected poison to the hospitalised activists injured in encounters with police. Risala police arrested Ahmed Din and Akhlaq Ahmed with two pistols. Nabi Bux police wanted Akhlaq in a murder case. Mochko police arrested a truck driver Ali Mohammed and recovered two pistols and 200 rounds of klashnikov from the truck. He allegedly worked for MQM and had brought the ammunition from Balochistan. Khokhrapar police arrested Waseem Tariq, wanted in 13 cases of murder, firing, arson and police encounter. Garden police arrested Shahid alias TT from the area with a TT pistol and 100 rounds. Landhi police arrested Kashif Langra with a pistol wanted in murder and dacoity cases. (NNI/News Jan 8, 1999).
Jan 10, 1999
The Karachi police arrested six alleged workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) after an encounter in district Central's Liaquatabad area in which a police informer was killed. The police also recovered huge quantity of arms after a raid on the hideout of the alleged terrorists near Arshi Chowk at Qasimabad area in Liaquatabad.(News).
Another alleged terrorist of MQM arrested on the pointation of the terrorists whom police had arrested from katchi abadi of Qasimabad (Liaquatabad). Two KK rifles were also seized when CIA raided a hideout in Malir. Official sources reported that CIA with two Kalashnikovs from Malir 15 arrested Iqbal. He told the police that he was present during a heated discussion between Tariq Chamber and MQM chief Altaf Hussain followed by Altaf's orders of his killing complied with instantly by him with the help of another accomplice Zubair.(Nation Jan 11, 1999).
Jan 11, 1999
More than a dozen Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists, including a unit in-charge involved in murder and other criminal activities, arrested from Karachi. Arms and ammunition in huge quantities also recovered from them.
According to the details Abdus Salam alias Chingari allegedly responsible for killing of an ASI, a head constable and a constable in Ibrahim Haideri area last year along with his accomplices, arrested in Karachi. A TT pistol was also recovered from his possession. In raids and search operations in various parts of Liaquatabad five more suspects arrested for the incidents in which SHO Liaquatabad's brother-in-law was killed. The five persons picked up during raids in Azam Nagar, Sindhi Hotel and Peeli Kothi. Gulbahar police arrested Amjad Idrees, a joint unit in-charge of MQM, from Nazimabad and recovered a Kalashnikove from him. The accused was wanted in a number of murders firing and kidnapping cases. Surjani Town police on pointation of an under custody prisoner arrested two terrorists recovering two 7 mm rifles from an under construction building of the area with 100 rounds. Al Falah police arrested Saqib Hussain with a pistol. Aziz Bhatti police arrested Mohammed Sajid and Rehan in Gulshan and recovered two pistols from them.
Liaquatabad police arrested Haider Raza in murder and attempt the murder cases and recovered a pistol from him. Four persons including fake police sub inspector in uniform arrested from Landhi while they were collecting "bhatta" from shopkeepers. The accused, were identified as Ashraf alias Kala, who was the ringleader and was in uniform of police sub inspector, Mohammed Yousuf, Shahid and Zahid. Police also recovered four pistols from their possession.(NNI/News Jan 12,1999).
Jan 15, 1999
Police have arrested several activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) allegedly involved in terrorist and criminal activities in siege and search operations.According to the details three MQM activists were arrested after an exchange of fire from Khajji Ground in Nazimabad. They were identified as Saeed Nizami, Saleem and Aqeel. Two klashnikovs, eight revolvers and 200 rounds were also recovered from them. Police claimed that Saeed is involved in murder of three policemen and five other persons of the area. In Joharabad, three MQM activists were arrested after a brief encounter when they fired upon police from an abandoned house. They were identified as Mohammad Ali, Arman and Saleem. One 22 rifle and two TT pistols were recovered from them.The arrested persons were wanted in several criminal cases. Korangi Police arrested an activist Qurban Ali and recovered two rifles and several rounds from him. Zaman Town Police, arrested Mohammad Javed with a TT pistol. He was wanted in a number of murder, firing and arson cases.(Nation Jan 161999).
Jan 17, 1999
Police arrested four persons involved in forcibly collecting Bhata from the shopkeepers of Rainbow Center.(Nation Jan 18,1999).
Jan 22, 1999
An MQM (Altaf) MPA Afzal Anwar and a unit incharge of Mutahida Qaumi Movement Mohammad Hashim were arrested in connection with 1997 murder case of a PPP activist and his son. A police party, headed by the SHO Gulbahar, raided the house of Afzal Anwar and took away the MPA. The MPA was involved in the murder of Naeem Hasni, PPP President, district Central, Karachi and his son in 1997.
Gulishtan-e-Jauhar police arrested a Unit Incharge MQM Mohammad Hashim alias Khalid alias Hasho from a flat. He is involved in same murder case. He was also involved in ten murders and several criminal cases. The Rangers also arrested an accused Naeem Thalaywala from Liaquatabad who is involved in the murder of three army men. Afzal Anwar is the third MPA of Mutahida Qaumi Movement who was arrested as in the month of October last Shoaib Bokhari and Wakil Ahmad were arrested from Nine Zero. During the interrogation, Naeem told that the others involved in the killings are Farooq, Saghir Mota, sector incharge Shabbir Qasai, Akram Kana, Nadeem Marble-wala, Habib Safdar, Abrar, Rashid, Javed Kala, Amir and Asif.
More MQM activists allegedly involved in terrorists and criminal activities also arrested with arms and ammunition from different areas of the city. New Karachi police arrested Shahid Charibi after a shootout and recovered two 7mm rifles, a single barrel shot gun and a repeater from the spot. Afalah police arrested Shabbir Ahmed alias Farhan and recovered a G-3 rifle snatched from an official from him. Saudabad police arrested Maqbool Ahmed and Amir Raza from the area. He is involved in murder and arson cases. Two pistols were also recovered from him. Saeedabad police arrested Abdul Jabbar with a pistol. Ibrahim Haideri police arrested Suleman and recovered a rifle from him. Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police arrested Azizur Rehman with a TT pistol. New Karachi police arrested Mohammed Imran with a pistol from the area.(Nation Jan 23, 1999).
Jan 24, 1999
A considerable quantity of arms and ammunition recovered by police on the pointation of arrested terrorists of MQM. According to the details Khalid alias Pawwa, a former unit incharge was arrested in Azizabad by SHO-led police party. On his pointation, police recovered one 22 rifle, one 222 rifles, one repeater gun and over 400 bullets buried in Yasinabad graveyard. On pointation of Akram Rajput, an arm depot was raided near a mosque (Bahare Madina) in Liaquatabad from where a china rifle, a 7mm rifle, TT pistols, mauser, carbine, two 222 rifles one kk rifle and 15 shells anti-tank fuse.(Nation Jan 25, 1999).
Jan 27, 1999
The killings of hundreds of Karachiites was ordered by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, the two-under arrest MQM terrorists disclosed as the Karachi police officially declared the arrest of the two RAW-trained terrorists and their four accomplices.
Altaf Hussain has been personally giving me orders to kill, said 25-year-old Muhammad Nadeem, an under-matriculate involved in the killings of 203 persons in Kalashinkov attacks and bomb blasts, during SSP Lahore's press conference conducted prior to any identification parade of the accused, or their statement in judicial custody.
The city police chief, Ahmad Raza Tahir said that Muhammad Nadeem and his accomplice Muhammad Sarwar had killed over 200 persons including 67 in four bomb blasts, 25 in Kalashinkov attack on a passenger bus, the murder of MNA Azeem Ahmad Tariq, 10 by using head-torture clips and 84 in pillion-riding attacks. They had also kidnapped two Koreans, two Chinese and two Iranian-nationals and the government had to pay ransom for their release. They had also packed 12 bodies in sacks and stolen Rs 55 million from a Hyderabad bank by exploding its strong room door through a blast.
One of the terrorists, Muhammad Nadeem told reporters, he joined MQM in 1987 through Javaid Langra, got fire-arms training in Rajasthan, India, and how and his accomplices acted on the "direct orders" of MQM Chief, Altaf Hussain. "During the three-month training, the Indian Army had kept us in separate camps," he said, and recalled having seen between 500 and 600 MQM trainees at the Indian camps." In charge of so-called Shurfa committee and 12 sectors, the accused said he was 15 when he first committed a crime. "Since then, I never looked back," he said, adding that the money they looted was handed over to the Nine-Zero authorities. "I have met Altaf Hussain on a number of occasions in the presence of the Taj group members and was ordered to kill MNA Azeem Ahmad Tariq. I, along with my accomplices Imamud Din, Rashid Kala, Nasir Chingari and Taj had sprayed Kalashinkov bullets on a passenger bus which had left 17 dead," he said. About the bodies found I sacks, he said these were the members of the MQM and killed by MQM, "They had either refused to carry out any more terrorists act or had simply switched over to the other group," He said while explaining how the Altaf Hussain-led MQM had killed several persons and their family members for "disobeying".(Nation Jan 28,1999)
Liaquatabad police arrested two MQM workers Shafique and Arshad Kan Katta who are involved in the murder of two armymen. A Kalashinkov and T.T Pistal were recovered from their procession. These accused belong to A.S.I Naushad and Wahab Budhani group who are involved in the murder of Hakim Saeed, during investigations accused told the police that they killed two armymen on the directives of Tanzeem (MQM) and throw their bodies in Liaquatabad graveyard.(Nawa-I-Waqt Jan 28,1999)
January 31, 1999
A torture cell was unearthed by Liaquatabad police while four more terrorists including a close associate of Javed alias Langra were among those arrested on 31st Jan.
Ranger's team conducted raids in different parts of Karachi. In their raid in New Karachi, they held Ikramuddin alias Mama Bhola who is also a close associate of Javed alias Langra.
In Orangi Town of District West, Nadeem alias Pappar was reportedly arrested by Rangers. Two others viz Syed Abid Rizvi, incharge unit 180 and Muhammad Aslam were arrested from Allama Iqbal town. Arms were also recovered from them.
In Qasimabad of Liaquatabad, SHO Sarwar Commando-led police party raided a house on a tip-off where they demolished a picket established by terrorists. Police claimed that a major torture cell was being run in that building and that three armymen could also have been killed there.
In Liaquatabad No. 8, a hideout was raided where some materials used in torture also seized. Police raided the house of Rehan alias Kana in search of his brother Talha .
During their drive against anti-social elements, police rounded up some 37 accused. Police also disclosed the procedure used by MQM to send its activists abroad. The expenses were borne by its social welfare body Khidmat-I-Khalaq Foundation.The foundation also helped Zulfiqar Haider, member Sindh Assembly and main accused in Hakim Said murder case in leaving the country through Pak-Iran border on November 9, 1998 and paid cheques to Polani Travelling Agency in Karachi.
Two accused Tehseen Siddiqui and Abid involved in sending abroad the criminal activists of MQM were arrested by the police in this regard and police siezed fake visas of South Africa and other countries, identity cards, and fake passport from their possession. (Nation) February 01, 1999.
February 2, 1999
Police and CIA raided different areas in Karachi and arrested 10 terrorists. 6 out of them belong to Muttahida. Police also recovered arms from their procession. According to the details CIA Malir arrested accused Fiaz Ahmed of Muttahida, who told the police during interrogation that he committed different crimes on the directives from Nine Zero.
He killed two people on the orders of unit Incharge Kalia and ****d 10 women. Brigade police arrested Ikram who was wanted in different cases and recovered a pistol from him. Nazimabad police recovered a pistol from Mohammad Anwar while Sharifabad police arrested Kamran and recovered a pistol from him.
Ibrahim police also arrested Fahim Waseem and Mohammad Akram who are involved in the cases of murder, kidnapping and attempt of murder. CIA police recovered pistol from Usman, Malir City Police recovered rifle from Ijaz Ahmed, CIA Malir recovered mouser from Fiaz Ahmed and recovered pistol from Kazim Qureshi who was arrested from Liaqatabad. (Nawa-e-Waqt). February 3, 1999.
February 3, 1999
32 accused including two terrorists of MQM were rounded up as police and Rangers continued their campaign against terrorists and criminals.
Anti-Terrorists Wing (ATW) of Karachi Police had cordoned off Jamshed Quarter No. 2 near Bijli Ground in search of some wanted terrorists when they were fired upon by somebody. After a brief encounter, ATW team arrested one Salim alias Ghanoo and seized a Kalashinkov from his possession.
Chief of ATW team Raja Umer Khitab said Salim was wanted in 35 cases. Rangers and police raided the house of Shami Dacoit in Hasrat Mohani Colony of Pak Colony, District West. Zahid alias Kalia was also held. (Nation). February 4, 1999.
February 8, 1999
Ranger's spokesman said that the 51 Wing of Bhittai Rangers apprehended
two terrorists of MQM identified as Imran alias Super and Salimuddin alias Gullo.
They were held from Korangi No. 4. They were involved in various cases of murder including killing of a student Humayoon and "Ajji" of rival Haqiqi faction of MQM in Sector F.SDM of the area was also present during the raid.(Nation). February 9, 1999.
February 10, 1999
Pakistan Rangers have arrested an alleged hardened killer, Atiq alias Atoo, who is also nominated in the Hakim Said murder case.
According to a press release of Rangers, the accused is allegedly involved in over two dozen cases of murder, including killing of two Pakistan Air Force personnel, two police constables, one Qoumi Razadar and a woman.(News/APP). February 11, 1999.
February 11, 1999
Shakil Ahmed Kanpoori, member MQM organising Committee arrested by CIA Karachi Inspector, Javed Anjum, on January 12 from Islamabad, Shakil Ahmed is involved in over 60 crimes of a heinous nature Another 12 arrested terrorists were also present at this occasion.
They were: Arif Ahmed, Mohsin Shah, Kalim alias Jugno, Shahzad alias Ludan, Aurengzeb, Khalid Mehmood, Akhlaq alias Khalo, Salim Siddiquee, Shanawaz, Muhammad Ayub, Aziz-ur-Rehman and Sajjad.
Two klashnikovs, 10 pistols, a revolver, a stolen car and two motorcycles were recovered from these accused have confessed to murder more than 60 persons collecting Rs. 2 million through extortion, attacking mobiles of police and Rangers, setting on fire a passenger train in Orangi Town, torturing 50 persons to death at a Nazim Abad torture cell and getting released 25 terrorists through forged documents.
In his confessional statement, Shakil said Altaf Hussain wanted division of Pakistan into nine regions including a state for Mohajirs comprising Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas. He said initially the proposed state was named as Jinnahpur but when the intelligence agencies came to know about it, the proposed state was then renamed as Mohajiristan. He said Altaf Hussain would head that state.
He said everything had been chalked out on papers with regard to that proposed independent state. Anis Advocate Anis Ahmed Qaimkhani, Naseem Jalil, Aftab Sheikh Liaquat Ali, Dr Farooq Sittar, Zulfiqar Haider and Wasay Jalil were involved in that planning, Shakil said these people believed that their plan would be executed in the year 2000. Nation
Paramilitary forces conducted an operation in Darra Adamkhel in a hunt for the MQM terrorists. Eight locals suspected to have assisted Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement in gun running and violence in the Pakistan's port city and about 15 workers from the factories manufacturing guns were apprehended.
Intelligence agencies had credible tips about the presence of terrorists in the area. Four vehicles, lifted or snatched from Karachi were recovered during the operation. Those arrested include Haji Fazal and Haji Khan Mohammad Din, who have been providing arms and ammunitions to Altaf Hussain'. Authorities had information about the presence of six MQM men with Haji Fazal while some hand grenades were recovered from Mohammad Din's place. Two vehicles were recovered from Haji Fazal's place.(Nation).
According to WWI, CIA Jamshed quarters arrested MQM's terrorists Mohammad Shakeel alias "chikna" who had opened fire on Columbian Experts, arms were also recovered from him.(Nawa-e-Waqt). February 12, 1999.
February 14, 1999
An alleged MQM terrorist was arrested by the personnel of an intelligence agency in D.I Khan, police said. Maqsood, the alleged MQM terrorist was picked up from a city locality.
He was working as a labourer here for long time but was wanted by Karachi police in several
cases of heinous crimes. (News). February 15, 1999.
February 15, 1999
Police arrested nine Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) activists allegedly involved in murder and other criminal activities and recovered arms and ammunition from them. The New Karachi Police during patrolling intercepted an MQM activist Asif with a stolen car and TT pistol. During a search, the police recovered a card of Muslim Students Federation and Shabab Milli from his possession.
He was wanted in a number of criminal cases. The Soldier Bazar police arrested Mohammad Zaman and Mohammad Yousaf for their involvement in murder and arson cases. The Model Colony Police arrested Shahid alias Natha and Arshad Ali from Mehran depot and also recovered two TT pistols from their possession. The Mominabad police arrested Waseem alias Langara with a pistol. He was involved in murder and dacoity cases.
In New Karachi, police arrested Amir and Asif Kala driving a Car # Q-2386 and recovered 2 TT pistols from them. According to police both of them are Muttihada’s workers and involved in terrorist activities.(Nawa-e-Waqt). February 16, 1999.
February 16, 1999
Three wanted activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were reportedly apprehended by the Anti-terrorists wing personnel on their arrival in Karachi from Colombo by a PIA flight. They were identified as Mohammed Anwar, Abdul Rasheed and Izharul Hasan.
They were nabbed because of information received by ATW about their return to Karachi. They had fled to Colombo after governor's rule was imposed in Sindh.(APP/News). February 17, 1999.
February 17, 1999
Lahore Cantt circle police arrested an MQM terrorist Abdul involved in murder of 12 persons and other terrorist activities. Abdul Rauf alias Rufa alias Ali alias Shah, was arrested along with his sister-in-law Shaheen Kausar alias Shaheena alias Naz. Police after wards arrested their two allies Ameer Afsar and Fiazi Zaidi from Karachi on the information provided by them.
Police also recovered illegal arms from Ameer Afsar and Fiazi Zaidi. ASP Cantt Qazi Jamshad disclosed these details on 17 February in Lahore. He said that accused at interrogation centre North Nazimabad killed 9 persons including a rebelled MQM Sector Incharge on Independence Day in 1998.
ASP further told that the accused also killed K.M.C's engineer Shaan Zaidi and killed two persons in Imambargah Khar with firing. Accused killed Mohammad Khan and Ishmael Khan opponent of a drug baron in Quetta and took Rs 4 lakhs from the baron for the killings.
Accused is also involved in 8 bank dacoities and more than dozen other crimes. The sister-in-law of Rauf, Shaheen Kausar is also involved in various crimes. (Nawa-e-Waqt) February 18, 1999.
February 21, 1999
Jamal Sultan, Incharge, Society Sector of MQM was arrested from his house in Block II, PECHS in a raid conducted by CIA Central. One Kalashinkov and two Pajero jeeps were recovered from his house.
Azizabad police in several raids arrested the owners of some travel agencies on being pointed out by three MQM men who were arrested on February 20, 1999. (Nation).
Three alleged terrorists of MQM arrested by Anti-Dacoit and Robbery Cell (ADRC) in a raid in Muslimabad of Malir CityDSP of ADRC told in a briefing.Akbar Ali alias Babar Kashi, Nadeem alias Sri Devi and Mehmood Ahmed were arrested from behind the petrol pump in a raid and one carbine, two revolvers, 16 rounds were seized from their possession.They were named in seven cases registered by Saudabad police and Alfalah police. They are allegedly involved in burning ofbuses firing on police and transport (Nation) February 22, 1999.
February 22, 1999
CIA Malir arrested unit incharge of MQM Orangi Town, Shamim Pervaiz and his accomplice Naushad Alam. Two AK-47assault rifles were also recovered from them.
They were allegedly wanted in a number of cases, including seven murders, CIA East arrested Mohammad Nazir and Alamwith two Ttpistolsfrom Korangi area for involvement in murder and arson cases. (The News/NNI).February 23, 1999.
February 25, 1999
Liaquatabad police and FIA in a joint raid at Jinnah Terminal, arrested a Sector Incharge of MQM trying to flee to Male in Air Lanka flight at 3 am on February 25, 1999 while a Unit Incharge of MQM (H) and seven other MQM activists were also held and four suspects were taken into custody as police claimed to have arrested 55 accused.
Six pistols, two revolvers, one repeater and a dagger was also seized from their possession. Iftekhar Ahmed Khan, a Sector Incharge of Sharifabad was arrested while trying to flee to Male as he was to board the flight UL-184 of Air Lanka. His name was place on Exit Control List as he was named in killings and murder attempts. From his possession, a Press card was also seized. (Nation) February 26, 1999
February 26, 1999
Karachi police arrested four persons included Muttahida workers in raids in different areas of Karachi. Arms were also recovered from them. According the detail, Manghoo Peer Police arrested Kamran Billa an ally of Farooq Dada, a dangerous terrorist who was killed in police encounter and recovered a stengun from him. Accused Kamran is involved in the killings of several government officials and different incidents of firing and murder. (N.Waqt).
Rangers arrested one dangerous terrorist of Muttahida Qaumi Movement who was involved in killing of several persons including a police constable (Nation) February 27, 1999
February 27, 1999
The Karachi police arrested a notorious terrorist Syed Fida Hussain Shah, at Regal Chowk Saddar.
The accused was wanted by Baldia police in different cases of terrorist activities and arms smuggling. According to CIA, the accused was being interrogated at South CIA Center.(Nation/PPI).
An alleged terrorist of MQM Shakeel Shah was arrested by Havelian Police after prolonged exchange of fire. Shakeel Shah was wanted by Sindh Police in numerous heinous criminal acts. During the Police operation, Mian Raza, DSP Havelian, was also injured. Sindh Police had provided a list of terrorists to Hazara Police. On a tip off received by the Police, under the supervision of DSP Mian Raza, a Police party besieged the house of one Mustafa Shah, paternal uncle of Shakeel, and ordered the accused to come out.
In reply, the accused started firing on the Police which was responded by the Police personnel. Finally, the police arrested Shakeel. Police recovered one pistol, one repeater 12-bore, a Kalashinkov, three magazines and numerous cartridges from the accused. During the initial investigations, the terrorists confessed his involvement in several criminal cases. (Nation). February 28, 1999
All this were based on newspapers dailies Jang, Jasarat, The News , The Muslim, Nawa-I-Waqt,
Frontier Post , The Nation, Dawn , Jang, Pakistan Times and others
Yearwise detail of MQM's atrocities (Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM))
MQM came into being on March 18, 1984 from "All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation" (APMSO) but politically it got activated in 1986.
And from that year politics and history of Karachi took a bloody turn. The year wise details about the regime of terror which started in 1986, and about the story of horror, and blood and tears which still continues unfortunately, and also of the wicked leader "Quaid-e-Tahreek" of the same party who changed thousand faces all these years, and of the handful of elements who for their own interests used cheap tactics and created disturbance and violence in Karachi,
1986
MQM's first-ever public meeting at Karachi's Nishtar park on August 8, 1986, was marked by heavy aerial firing from the; pistols and rifles which the party activists were carrying on them. On that day, windowpanes of a traffic police kiosk opposite Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum were broken, and stones were pelted on petrol pump near Gurumandir. Addressing the rally, Altaf Hussain said: "Karachi is no more mini-Pakistan. We will accept help no matter where it comes from, from east or west, north or south" (dailies Jang, Jasarat and other newspapers of August 9, 1986).
Two months later, on October 25, 1986, while addressing a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club, Altaf Hussain told the Mohajir youth to "collect arms. If our rights are not given to us, we will use every kind of force". On October 31, while addressing a public meeting at Hyderabad's Pakka Qila, he said: "At first we fought for freedom. Now that we have freedom, we are searching for a country" (daily Amn, Nov 1, 1986). Riots broke out in Karachi the same evening. Twelve persons were killed, 25 wagons, autorickshaws and motorbikes were set on fire, and four houses and eight shops were torched.
Riots spread to Hyderabad where seven persons were shot dead in two days. Curfew was clamped in both cities to contain violence, and Altaf Hussain alongwith ten others was arrested by he police on November 2 for attempt to murder and rioting. Nine other MQM activists were also taken into custody and firearms recovered from their possession, whereas 63 persons from other parties to the rioting were arrested from Sohrab Goth area. On November 3, ten persons were killed in hand-grenade attacks in Orangi Town area while six others died in street trouble, brining the week's death toll in Karachi to 52.
On November 18, armed MQM activists fired in the air to disrupt a cricket match in Hyderabad's Niaz Stadium. On November 21, at the end of a one-day cricket match between Pakistan and West Indies, armed MQM activists blocked all roads leading to Karachi's National Stadium. 30 persons received bullet wounds in indiscriminate firing in the Liaquatabad. Teen Hatti, Gulbahar, Orangi, Sabzi Mandi, Nazimabad and other areas of the city. A bank was burnt in Liaquatabad, while a bus was put on fire on Shahrah-e-Quaideen. One November 22, three buses and an oil tanker were burnt in Landhi, while a branch of the National Bank was ransacked and torched in Liaquatabad.
Another government bus and a minibus were burnt in Malir and Old Numaish, and several buses were pelted with stones on November 23. On November 24, 11 vehicles were burnt down in New Karachi, Federal B' Area, Paposhnagar, Gulbahar and Nasirabad. On November 28, armed clashes between MQM activists and the police took place in Hyderabad during which five bank branches were damaged and one bus put on fire.
MQM announced a strike in Karachi on December 9 and asked its followers to remain peaceful. The 'peaceful' strike led to the burning of 11 vehicles and seven bank branches. One youngster was killed, and nearly 40 wounded in indiscriminate firing. Demonstrators pelted stones on the police and a bomb was blasted near Liaquatabad police station. The police became helpless against protesters" (daily Amn). On December 14, MQM's secretary general Dr Imran Farooq stated that the situation could be brought under control only if Altaf Hussain and his companions were freed.
That night, 50 persons lost lives during ghastly manslaughter in Orangi Town. The army was called in and curfew clamped. According to newspapers, the entire Ghetto Township had passed into the hands of a group of klashnikov-weilding youngsters. 70 more persons were killed on December 15.
According to available statistics, as many as 173 persons were sacrificed on the alter of MQM struggle for rights, while 10 banks, 75 vehicles 24 houses and 20 shops were burnt during the last 153 days of 1986. The battle for Karachi's so-called rights had begun. On December 20, MQM Chairman Azim Ahmad Tariq demanded justice for Mohajirs, and advised President Zia-ul Haq to issue arms licenses to Mohajirs. After this, we will neither invite the police or the administration to defend us, nor criticize the government on this score" (daily Jang Karachi).
1987
With the onset of 1987, lawlessness in Karachi caused curfew for a record number of days. This was also the year when MQM's anti-press traits began to shape up. The coming days were to expose some of the most fundamental contradictions inherent in the party's structure and philosophy.
It was on January 31, when Altaf Hussain made the first most controversial public statement of his career. Addressing a series of welcome receptions in Liaquatabad on that day, he told his audience. "Mohajirs will have no god use for their VCRs, color televisions and other luxuries because these things cannot defend us. They will have to arrange for their own security" (daily Jang, Feb 1, 1987).
On February 1, in the central committee meeting of Awami National Party at Lahore that was presided by Khan Abdul Wali Khan, a resolution was passed stating that Sindh's Mohajirs were a part of the larger Sindhi nationality, and that there was no such thing as a Mohajir nationality. ANP was later to become one of MQM's most trusted allies in national politics.
On February 19, Altaf Hussain addressed another rally at Burns Road in Karachi. As the party activists started shooting their guns in the air, Altaf Hussain stopped them, saying "save your ammunition". The audience raised hands to give Altaf the permission to meet anyone, including G.M. Syed. During his address, Altaf said that Sindh could not bear any more population. "There are also Lahore and Faisalabad in the way. These too are Pakistani cities".
On February 20 and 21, 16 persons were wounded and one Suzuki van, four motorbikes and a KTC bus were put on fire during rioting in Liaquatabad, Shershah, Federal B' Area and Sabzi Mandi. Young boys in Liaquatabad pelted stones at the police the whole day.
On April 5, at the book launching ceremony of Shakil Ahmad Zia, Altaf made a hard hitting speech against Punjab, the Punjabis and the army. "You used force, and the result was that the country broke into two History offers no example of such a large number of troops laying down arms. For those who want to send us back to India, let me say that we will not go alone. The whole Pakistan will go to India". During the same address he issued his first threat to the press. One newspaper is becoming a party against Mohajirs. It should take warning" (daily Amn. April 6, 1987).
On May 21, a young man was killed when riots broke out in Malir and Khokhrapar in protest over the arrest of some MQM workers. Six vehicles were also burnt in the area.
In an interview with daily Nawa-e-Waqt's Irashad Ahmad Arif, published on May 25, 1987, Altaf Hussain said: "Urdu language is Punjab's problem, not ours. We have never demanded that it should be made the national language".
On June 11, while addressing the foundation day celebrations of All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO), he demanded that Mohajirs be issued with arms licenses. He said the religious parties did nothing for the Mohajir Shaheeds but when a Punjabi died everyone from top issued statements of condemnation to bottom. He also said that anyone who met the Muslim Leaguers or was hand in glove with the government ministers had no place in MQM ranks (daily Amn, June 12, 1987).
On June 21, MQM chairman, Azim Ahmad Tariq, stated that the anti-Mohajir policy of daily Jang would be fully resisted. He announced Jang's boycott, and asked people not to read it. The same evening, dozen-armed persons attacked Jang's bureau in Hyderabad and put the premises on fire.
From July 22 to August 30, clashes between MQM and a rival group called Punjabi-Pukhtoon Ittehad (PPI) caused the death of 22 persons, while 300 were wounded. Five policemen also died in riots, while 38 were wounded. Seven KTC buses and a local train also became targets of terrorism. Clashes between the two rival groups had first broken out in April, but arrests on both sides had caused the trouble to temporarily subside.
On August 4, during an address to MQM's general workers' meeting, Altaf Hussain said that the days of the power of the army and the police were numbered. These forces have been bullying us in our airfields, police stations, neighborhoods and streets. They have put the entire Pakistan in their pockets". He further said on August 14, MQM would announce that mini-Pakistan is not Karachi, but Lahore. "Throw open the gates of Lahore to Afghan refugees on that day, and let them do what they please" (daily Amn, August 5, 1987).
On August 9, the campaign to collect sacrificial hides began in Karachi and Azim Tariq, in a statement, alleged that the Jamaat workers robbed MQM volunteers of their hides at gunpoint. He condemned this act, and issued a warning to Jamaat. On August 21, Altaf Hussain told a meeting at New Karachi that the problems could no longer be solved without rendering sacrifices, and asked people willing to make sacrifices to give their names. Addressing the Mohajir police trainees, he said that if they are forced to quit their job, they should break the legs of their instructor. A time will come when our people will be sitting in police stations he said.
On August 26, bloody-armed clashes between two groups in Shah Faisal Colony led to the death of nine persons. 80 persons were injured. Eight platoons of police, riding in 32 mobile vans, were present at the scene but could not bring hostilities to an end. Riots also broke out in Hyderabad on August 27. Curfew was clamped which continued unbroken for twelve days, until 4 p.m. on September 7. On August 28, chairman Jiye Sindh Mahaz (JSM), Abdul Wahid Aresar, expressed support for the "suppressed" Mohajirs, saying that the army, the police and Punjabi settlers had attacked the Mohajirs as if they were a conquered people (daily Amn, August 29, 1987).
The government of Sindh on August 28 issued orders for the arrest of all those involved in rioting. PPI's Malik Ghulam Sarwar Awan, Mir Hazar Khan and 160 others were arrested, but Altaf Hussain was not found at his residence.
In the interest of peace, the government made a goodwill gesture by dropping criminal charges against all concerned, but it was not destined to work.
On August 30, Altaf Hussain courted arrest. On September 29, a spokesman of MQM said that the party considered Khanabdul Wali Khan and Abdul Ghaffar Khan as the true representatives of the Pukhtoons. He also expressed optimism about the party's ongoing talks with the PPI.
On October 8, G.M. Syed told journalists in Matli that the time had come for a union between the Sindhis and Mohajirs. We have recognized our common enemy, he said.
On October 31, MQM announced a strike to commemorate last year's killings at Sohrab Goth. During the strike, indiscriminate firing led to the killing of two persons. 85 others were injured while six vehicles, seven shopsand two banks were put on fire. A telephone exchange was burnt in Orangi. Three women, a girl and a man were injured in roadside firing in Liaquatabad and a petrol bomb in Pak Colony injured two police constables. Riots in Kotri and Hyderabad resulted in injuries to DSP and SSP Hyderabad, while offices of the Muslim League and Wapda, a post office, an office of social security, four bank branches and 17 vehicles were set on fire.
1988
Rioting, arson and murder continued into January 1998, ten months before the restoration of democracy in the country. On January 10, stabbing incidents and acts of terrorism in Golimar, Liaquatabad, New Karachi Shah Faisal Colony, Banaras, tin Hatti, Chand Bibi Road and Rizvia Society led to the killing of five persons, and the injuring of several pedestrians including three journalists. 13 vehicles were also set on fire. The army was called in to control the situation. On January 18, four persons were killed in bloody clashes between MQM and PPI activists. Moreover, 37 houses and shops of the area were put on fire in petrol bomb attacks. Curfew was clamped to disengage the warring factions.
Nine persons were killed and 60 hurt in riots that engulfed Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and Sohrab Goth on February 4. The property put on fire included 28 houses, several shops, two factories, a petrol pump and several vehicles. Six more people were killed, and two vehicles burnt, in Liaquatabad, Pak Colony and Gulbahar areas on February 8. Curfew continued in different areas of the city. In a statement on February 21, Altaf Hussain said that Jamaat-e-Islami was another name for the drug mafia and the police. He called Jamaat's Prof. Ghafoor a liar, and accused him of towing Jamaat's "traditional" policy of hypocrisy (daily Amn, Feb 22, 1988).
On March 1, the driver of an oil tanker lost control when he came under attack of rioters in Liaquatabad, the vehicle breaking into a house and killing four inmates. This incident was followed by violent protest in which rioters injured 12 policemen including SDM and DSP Liaquatabad. Nine police vans, a minibus and an autorickshaw were damaged. Four more vehicles were put on fire. On March 3, curfew was clamped in Liaquatabad to prevent further trouble. On March 13, in his address to the Karachi bar, Altaf Hussain advised Punjabis and Pukhtoons to go back to their own provinces and demand jobs from their governments.
On April 6, an attempt by the MQM to rename Haider Chowk (named after great nationalist leader, Comrade Haider Bux Jatoi) as Mohajir Chowk created tension in Hyderabad.
On April 30, an accident between a motorbike and a Suzuki van led to incidents of stabbing and firing in Orangi in which four persons were killed.
10 injured a bank branch and several shops burnt. The trouble spread, and by May 9, 31persons had fallen to death in factional fights in Orangi, Nishtar Road, Lighthouse, Pak Colony, Khwaja Ajmer Nagri, Nazimabad and elsewhere.
On May 11, the incidents of stabbing rickshaw drivers in the curfew hit areas started. Six rickshaw drivers were seriously injured. On May 23, MQM activists hiding in Jutland Lines and Shah Faisal colony started attacking policemen and magistrates in order to harass them.
On June 18, riots broke out in Hyderabad in which six persons died and 12 vehicles were destroyed. Two more persons died on the following day inspite of the imposition of curfew.
July 17, in the riots following attack on Mayor Hyderabad. Aftab Shaikh, eight persons were killed and much damage done to property. The bodies of the victims were sent to Sindh interior. On July 21, women activists of MQM stormed the Latifabad police Station and freed 18 arrested persons. G.M. Syed told newsmen on July 22 that both the government and Altaf Hussain were responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation. Altaf Hussain had become arrogant, inflated, he said. On the following day, altaf Hussain called on Syed at Haider Manzil and the two leaders made and remove misunderstandings.
On August 30, MQM activists pumped bullets into a Karachi University student, Aamir Salim, killing him instantly. On September 3, APMSO activists launched attacks on members of other student bodies as well as on lecturers in various city colleges, injuring dozens of them. These attacks were supervised by five councilors of the municipality. On September 30, the worst carnage of Hyderabad's history took place in which more than 150 persons, including Urdu speaking, Gujratis, Sindhis and Memons were killed.
On the following day, i.e. on October 1, terrorists in an early morning operation in Karachi's suburban areas of Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Model Colony, Gulbahar, Orangi Town and Pak Colony herded out of their houses and shot dead at least 90 Sindhi persons. Chief of Mohajir Ittehad Tehrik (MIT), Dr Salim Haider, in a statement said that MQM had given nothing to the people but dead bodies.
On November 10, a representative meeting of the political parties of Karachi condemned MQM's terrorism, and in this regard a memorandum for Commissioner Karachi was signed by PPP's Amir Haider Kazmi, ANP's Amin Khatak, PDP's Mushtaq Mirza, JUI's Qari Sher Afzal and others. Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani stated that MQM wanted to win elections by terrorizing the people, "but we will not bow before anyone".
1989
This was the year when incidents of firing by masked assailants increased, differences within the MQM came to surface, and thousands of copies of Urdu daily Jang were burnt by MQM activists during a boycott of that newspaper.
The rioting that marred the last days of 1988 continued into the New Year with the death of a man on January 1, 1989. This led to the arrest of 72 PPI activists, and cases were registered against one MNA and two MPAs of MQM for inciting trouble. January 24 and 26, MQM forced the closure of all markets and bazaars in Sukkur. On January 30, armed bands of MQM activists took control of the NED Engineering University. On January, curfew was clamped in some parts of the Karachi port following the murder of a taxi driver in the area.
On February 23, arsonists torched the offices of the vice chancellor of Karachi University. After day long rioting, the university was closed indefinitely.
On March 10, a 16-year-old person died and about twelve others were hurt as a result of indiscriminate firing by terrorists on innocent pedestrians. On the same day MQM announced its boycott of Jang newspaper.
On March 11, four dead bodies were recovered from Model Colony area. On March 12, curfew was imposed in Shah Faisal Colony following the death of a 12-year-old child. 13 persons were inured in terrorist firing on March 13. On March 14, two dead bodies were recovered in the wake of ongoing trouble in Shah Faisal colony and Saudabad. Masked gunmen struck on March 18, killing 10 persons and wounding 15 as they went on a killing spree in Malir and Khokhrapar areas. On March 22, MQM members together with G.M. Syed's son, Imdad Mohammad Shah, staged a protest walkout from Sindh Assembly. On March 26, MQM announced that it would back the IJI for the repatriation of Biharis from Bangladesh.
On April 1, three people died in firing by masked gunmen in Shah Faisal Colony. Student trouble started in the two medical colleges of the city and 10 students were kidnapped from Karachi University. On April 6, 10 persons were killed and 40 others wounded in incidents of firing in Hyderabad. The trouble was controlled by imposition of curfew. While death and destruction reigned in Karachi and Hyderabad. Curfew was also imposed in Nawabshah following the death of five persons in linguistic riots.
Three MQM ministers filed their resignations on May 1, but the government as a goodwill gesture rejected these. On May 3, the MQM activists broke up a rally of JUP in Gulbahar at which Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani was the chief guest. On May 7, a government contractor was killed in Ranchore Line. On May 9, doctors lodged their protest over the activities of armed MQM activists inside Civil Hospital Karachi. In Sukkur, 20 shops were burnt down in linguistic riots. Medical examinations were postponed on May 18 following an armed clash of APMSO with Sindhi students.
MQM announced its campaign of voluntary arrests to protest against the government on May 26. Talks between the chief minister Punjab, Mian Nawaz Sharif, and Altaf Hussain for political co-operation were held on May 30. On June 1, three federal ministers held an emergent round of talks with the MQM in order to save the Karachi accord.
On June 14, a group of armed students stormed the university offices and held the vice chancellor and 20 staff members' hostage for eight hours.
Three Peoples Students Federation (PSF) workers were killed on July 8. Between July 16 and 23, widespread trouble in Hyderabad led to the death of 10 persons. Curfew was imposed in the city.
On August 13, following the killing of seven persons in firing by masked gunmen, certain areas of Karachi were again brought under curfew. Armed persons also gunned down 11 more persons died in riots on August 19, a police constable was gunned down.
Between September 17 and 19, at least nine people were killed and 24 injured in riots in Hyderabad. On September 21, a student was killed and three others injured in firing in Karachi's S.M. Science College. In Model Colony, day long rioting and running gunbattles led to the imposition of curfew. In a report submitted on September 22, the then DIG Karachi, Afzal Shigri, said that MQM was not a political organization, but a terrorist one.
Altaf met President Ghulam Ishaq Khan at Karachi's State guesthouse on October 13. On the same day, two police inspectors were gunned down by terrorists in the city. On October 23, MQM unilaterally pulled out of Karachi accord.
Violence hit Karachi and Hyderabad on November 6, in which four persons were killed. The then chief of army staff, Mirza Aslam Beg, expressed hope on November 7 that soon a broad based government would be established in the country. Rangers were called to Soldier Bazaar on November 9 following the death of one person in firing. On November 21, a man was killed in Baldia town.
On December 2 an armed clash between students of Dow Medical College resulted in injuries to 12 students. Meanwhile, five days of rioting in Hyderabad between December 12 and 25 resulted in the death of 21 persons. Five persons died in Karachi on December 20. Two more persons were killed in Karachi on December 21, while two students were killed on December 22.
1990
This was the year when MQM played horrible role by unleashing a reign of terror and blood letting in Karachi and Hyderabad, it set example of the extent to which it could go to impose a minority view on the majority.
400 persons were eliminated in the first six months of 1990, and many more were kidnapped and made hostage. The months of February and May saw the most killings, with MQM terrorists going on a killing spree to punish political dissent. And the time came when Karachiites were to be confined behind huge gates of steel obtained from the bounty of Pakistan Steel Mills which passed into MQM's effective control.
On January 3, 1990, ANP and MQM reached an agreement to work jointly for "peace" in Sindh. Between January 30 and February 3, 18 persons died in Hyderabad riots. The Government of Pakistan observed February 5 as solidarity day with the Kashmiris, and rallies were held all over the country. In the evening, masked gunmen killed two persons and kidnapped eight others in an obvious bid to counter Pakistan's Kashmir cause. MQM announced strike for February 7 and on February 6 the worst trouble of the year started. 64 persons were killed between February 6 and 9.
Karachi University opened on March 31, after a 51-day closure. Altaf Hussain started his famous fast unto death on April 7, which he was to end 150 hours later without achieving his aims. On April 12, MQM rejected a government offer to hold peace talks. In acts of terrorism in Hyderabad on April 17, 23, 29 and 30, 11 people fell to their death.
On May 3, India rejected a Pakistani offer for talks. On May 9 and 10, 16 persons were killed in Malir. In Hyderabad, 25 persons were killed on May 15, 17 and 19. Following the death of 80 more persons in Karachi and Hyderabad on May 26 and 27, curfew was clamped. One of the victims in Karachi was Senator Mohsin Siddiqui, who was killed for resisting paying protection money. 28 more persons were killed on May 28, while 20 persons were killed on May 29. On May 30 and 31, 73 persons were killed.
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan proposed the holding of an all-parties conference on Sindh situation on June 6. MQM did not participate in this conference. By June 3, the number of deaths caused by terrorist attacks rose to 150.
On July 1, Gen. Beg said that the army could restore peace in Sindh in a short time. On July 13, 45 persons were killed in a bomb blast in Hyderabad.
Pakistan Steel Mills also passed into a state of unprecedented anarchy. MQM was once again accused of carrying out acts of mass murder through its terrorist wing called Black tigers. The kidnapped workers and officers of Pakistan Steel could only be released after the intervention of commander 5-Corps, Gen. Asif Nawaz.
On August 22, acts of firing on MQM reception camps all over the city resulted in the killing of 27 persons. 55 persons were injured in these attacks.
After a brief lull, masked gunmen reappeared on the streets of Karachi and Hyderabad, killing three and six persons respectively on September 8. Two more persons died in Hyderabad on September 10. There was heavy firing in the city on that day, and a petrol pump and a government office were set on fire. On September 17, Hamid Imtiaz Hanif, son of the State Bank governor, was kidnapped.
On October 19, the cloth merchants of Mah#### Market in Karachi's Saddar area paid dearly for removing the flag of a linguistic party from the top of the building. 82 shops in the market were gutted in a huge fire.
The type of political and social tendencies, which MQM displayed during 1990, was in no way suitable to the national interests of Pakistan. It not only antagonized other communities, but also persecuted those Urdu speaking people who either opposed it actively, or were simply not interested in its politics. It embarked on the mission of creating a state within the state.
The fact that MQM resorted to terrorism as a means of achieving anti-state objectives is clear to everyone who saw it grow from rags to riches in a short span of five years. It is not a mere coincidence that:
MQM was a regular party to all the incidents of blood letting that took place in Karachi and Hyderabad since 1986
Nowhere was the Urdu speaking population found involved as a community in racial killings, which remained the exclusive handiwork of its armed workers
All the Urdu speaking, Punjabi, Pukhtoon, Sindhi and Baloch victims of terrorism in Sindh were killed because of their race.
Five years of MQM also showed it to be a party, which avoided solutions to people's problems as a consistent strategy of heightening alienation. MQM's attacks on Pakistan's integrity, and the kind of violent reactions it displayed to every move the Pakistani government made over the Kashmir problem inevitably put this party in an unpatriotic frame, out to carry India's cause through the heart of Pakistan.
MQM's most favorite pill for its voters is the rhetoric that it wants to eliminate Waderas and feudal lords from Pakistani politics.
On December 9, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced in Sanghar a grant of Rs 10 billion for Sindh. On December 11, in MQM's Liaquatabad rally, he announced Rs 7 billion for Karachi. N December 17, the Jam-MQM government terminated the services of 32 assistant commissioners and 18 DSPs.
1991
Having settled in the corridors of power, MQM caused to set in the worst period of tyranny and persecution in the history of Sindh. It persecuted the press, destroyed political rivals with impunity, and organized a huge force of extortionists to discipline people and raise funds for the party. Dividing between them the affairs of urban and rural Sindh, Altaf Hussain ran the province of Sindh according to the menial whims and wildest fancies.
This was also the year when for the first time dissent within the MQM grew open and strong. Afaq Ahmad and his friends were declared traitors and their sentence specified. The slogan "Quaid's traitor deserves death" became the graffiti of every wall and the banner of every apartment house. MQM's death squads were pulled back from the fronts against other races and turned against their own people.
Altaf Hussain's own nerves creaked under the threat of dissent, and he left Nine-Zero to take refuge in Abbasi Shaheed hospital on the ruse of a bad kidney. Security matters were taken back from the increasingly suspect party organization and placed in the care of more loyal APMSO. As the crisis grew, so did the need to enhance personal charisma. This was when the stories of miracles in Saudi Arabia got currency, and the "saint" leader's images, complete with the mustaches and dark sunglasses, started appearing on tree leaves and mosque tiles.
To convince the Punjabis of the spellbinding power of the Pir over his followers, a group of 37 MQM MNAs and MPAs was dispatched to Lahore Press Club to read before the journalists a written oath of allegiance. The test, which was not allowed to be circulated in Karachi, repeatedly referred to the "blind faith" of individual members in the leadership of Altaf Hussain.
The press conference was held on July 25, a day after Lahore high court ordered the release of Afaq Ahmad and others. The press conference went on for two and a half hours, and all this while a telephone was available to Altaf Hussain in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital to hear the proceedings live (dailies Jang and Nawa-I-Waqt Lahaore, July 26, 1991). All the 37 members individually read their oaths before the newsmen. Dr Farooq Sattar said, "if I commit treachery against the Qauid, I will have denied my paternity". Wasim Ahmad said, "if I go against the Qauid. I may not be of my mother" (daily Nawa-I-Waqt Lahroe, July 26, 1991).
When the newsmen objected that they could not sit through the statements, which were more or less alike, some MQM members retorted by saying, "once we get a foothold in Lahore, then you will sit and listen, like they do in Karachi". This led to a number of journalists walking out of the press conference in protest.
Late in the evening of July 27, Pir Pagara's sin-in-law, Salim Malik, was assassinated while returning from Gadani. The poor man died because the assassins thought it was Afaq Ahmad and his friends entering into Karachi from Balochistan. Two days later, the police for the murder arrested MQM terrorist, Iqbal Chand.
1991 was, therefore, the year in which it became clear that MQM would not change its character, no matter who ruled the country. It showed itself to be a pressure group, which used Mohajirs to blackmail governments for attaining individual objectives and eliminating opponents. It launches bloody movements against governments, which wouldn't pay it any attention, and keeps on tenterhooks those which are willing to get cozy.
MQM's bully also took Karachi's press to task. When the press started reporting even half-truths about MQM, the gunmen went into action. Known journalist Maulana Salahuddin's house was set on fire long before he was finally assassinated. Daily Dawn, eveninger "Star" and monthly "Herald" were prevented from distribution. Copies of dailies" Jang" and "The News" were burnt in thousands, and MQM chairman, Azim Tariq, openly threatened journalists when he said in a public meeting that they should "keep their Ka'aba in the right direction". Zafar Abbas, Kamran Khan, Nafisa Hoodbhai and other journalists were attacked.
During this year, when MQM was in power and had its ministers both in Islamabad and In Sindh, 27 police officers that refused to sidestep the law were murdered. They included inspector Mohammad Usman, inspector Malik Ehsan, Kazim Soomro etc.
This year the MQM fought its political rivals on two fronts. One was opened against Islami Jamiatut-Talaba (IJT) and the other against the dissenters within its ranks. On both fronts, the "enemies" were either jailed or dismissed as dacoits and got killed.
On January 3, the Jam-MQM cabinet decided to set up four special courts in Sindh. Following the death of Shaukat Shah and ahead of the senate elections on January 11.
On February 20, MQM's 28 MPA's expressed their confidence in altaf Hussain's leadership by submitting their resignations to chairman Azim Ahmad Tariq. On February 21, the federal government indefinitely postponed the holding of population census.
On March 3, dissent within the MQM surfaced when the party expelled its provincial minister, Badar Iqbal on charges of financial embezzlement. Daily Dawn was warned to mend its ways and not to publish the statements of MQM's opponents. On March 19, MQM's armed hooligan robbed 21,000 copies of the newspaper. On March 21, in protest over MQM's excesses against hawkers, daily Dawn suspended its publication.
On April 30, the two Japanese students who had been kidnapped for ransom 45 days ago recovered. On July 17, MQM dissented Afaq Ahmad, Aamir Khan, Naim Akhtar, Iqbal Qureshi, Mohammad ounus and Naim Hashmat were arrested in Lahore. On September 29, journalists all over the country observed black day to protest over MQM attacks on newsmen. On October 1, terrorists bombed the house of known journalist, Mohammad Salahuddin, and put on fire. On October 11, the kidnapped Chinese engineers were recovered. On October 16, MQM's Tariq Javed was appointed the acting chief minister of the province following Jam Sadiq's departure to London for treatment is returned in November.
On December 31, Altaf Hussain spent his last day in Pakistan. On an early morning flight on January 1, 1992, he left for England never to come back.
Since Altaf Hussain's arrival in England, he is operating his terrorist organization from London under the coverage of Muthaidda Qaumi Movement.
1992
Criminal activities by MQM, the outrages of its extortionists called the "Bhatta Mafia", unabashed blackmailing of the trading and business community, relentless subversion of the law, and the growing incidence of deaths in the city's torture cells forced the Nawaz Sharif government to order a military operation against "dacoits and terrorists" in Sindh. Sindh government endorsed this operation, but MQM leaders Azim Tariq, Salim Shahzad and Dr Imran Farooq objected to the word "terrorists" as one of the targets of this operation, demanding that it should be repealed.
The operation was launched on May 28, 1992, and soon afterwards MQM severed all ties with the masses, going underground to start building its anti-state fighting force. In the meantime, the government filed cases of murder, kidnapping and larceny against Altaf Hussain on six different occasions. In view of the seriousness of the situation, Altaf Hussain, who was already residing in London, applied for political asylum in the USA, but the request was turned down.
Soon the "non-political, unarmed" crusaders of five years ago had turned into a band of hooligans who were armed to their teeth, sniffing into every nook and corner of this huge metropolis in search of dissent and opposition. Their exploits became more than evident when following the onset of army operation, daily Dawn's Ghulam Hasnain picked a dusty piece of human nose from one of MQM's erstwhile torture cells in Landhi. So that's what they had been up to, chopping off noses and ears, and then hanging the victims or putting them before the firing squads.
On December 15, 1995, an increasingly worried Altaf Hussain announced to quit politics. "I am retiring from politics today, it has given me much pain", he said. But as the underground fighting network began to shape up, Altaf was back on the scene, and his deputy Javed Langrha was already shouting directives to party activists from across the border in New Delhi.
The fighting force that was put together in the back alleys of Karachi was based on a working system of logistics, communications and publicity, including regular and cellular telephone links between Karachi, London, Africa and Delhi, and the services of some capitalists, some city hospitals, some telephone department personnel, some loyalists in the city police and some journalists of local morning and evening newspapers. This force showed some speed by using the local police to abort the actions of operation personnel, but the more it stayed underground, the freer the Karachi press got. When Nawaz Sharif government registered criminal cases against Altaf and his cohorts, and relatives of the victims of MQM's torture cells took out processions, MQM- (A) found itself isolated on the political scene.
During its stay in Karachi, the army not only recovered a considerable number of firearms during siege and search operations, it also saved a number of victims from dying in MQM's torture cells in Landhi and Lines Area. No innocent person was either jailed or otherwise persecuted during the entire army operation, and this is why MQM has not been able to build a case of human rights violations against the army, although it tried its level best to give the army a bad name.
MQM had two good reasons to defame the army: first, its favorite army chief, General Mirza Aslam Beg, who was at the center of MQM's grand designs to capture absolute power in the country, was no more in the saddle, having failed to convince the political leadership to give him an extension, and second, MQM's attacks on the army gave a cushion to Delhi based Javed Langrha in winning Indians' backing. The year 1992 brought a quick downfall to MQM, which had attained the glory just as quickly.
On February 13, 1992, when MQM was still in power in Karachi although its leader was settling down for an indefinite stay in London, Shujaat, the cousin of Line Area's Haqiqi leader Mansoor Chacha, was killed. Another person, Mohammad Asif, was injured in the same area when miscreants fired on Rangers. On February 24, Jamaat-e-Islami's senator, Prof Khurshid Ahmad, stated that had forcefully induced 6,000 men in Pakistan Steel Mills. Nusrat Mirza, a leader of Mohajir Rabita Council, said if way was paved for Altaf Hussain's return to the country, there would be more bloodshed in Karachi.
Two police personnel were killed in Nazimabad on March 23. On April 21, a Haqiqi activist, Sami, was killed in Liaquatabad. On May 5, a Karachi industrialist, Azhar Iqbal, was killed. On May 9, five persons were killed in a Hyderabad hospital. On May 17, Aga Khan Foundation's Ashiq Ali Hirji was kidnapped. His fate is yet to be known.
On May 19, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held parleys with the new chief minister of Sindh, Muzaffar Hussain Shah, and the Corps commander Karachi, on how to control the situation in the province. Later the same evening, the Prime Minister met with Altaf Hussain during a brief stopover in London. On June 4, the army came into Sindh. On June 19, to preempt possible clashes between the two MQM groups, army came into Karachi and imposed curfew. The entire MQM leadership went underground.
On June 22, cases were filed against 13 persons including Altaf Hussain. On June 24, the army opened for general public a huge torture cell in Landhi. The same day the Karachi administration asked the people to demolish iron gates erected by MQM all over the city. On June 27, MQM revoked its agreement with the Nawaz Sharif government. On June 29, MQM members resigned their seats in the national and Sindh assemblies. On July 13, 12 MQM MPAs said they had submitted resignations under duress. On July 19, Sindh chief minister in an announcement dissociated from MQM. He told a press conference that Altaf would be arrested and put on trial.
On September 8, police inspector Bahadur Ali arrested two MQM terrorists, Khalid and Asif Lala. They admitted to have assassinated the provincial election commissioner's son and councilor Anwaar Ahmad.
On November 7, MQM's union chief in Pakistan Steel, Khalid Murtaza, was arrested on the charges of illegal confinement of some persons the previous year. Ashfaq Chief, a notorious assassin who was also arrested alongwith Murtaza, said, "I considered MQM to be the party of the oppressed, but I was made to do bad jobs. I repent".
On November 27, MQM chairman Azim Tariq surfaced from underground. He said "Altaf Hussain may disown me, he may call me a traitor, it is up to him, but God damn it, he has turned Karachi into a pond of blood" (Dailies Qaumi Akhbar, and Nawa-e-Waqt Lahore).
1993
On December 15, Altaf Hussain announced his retirement from politics. On December 24, a spokesman of the army said that action against terrorists had been completed. But the year 1993 furnished further proof of Altaf Hussain's slippery cunning. He was not to renounce politics, nor allow the army to return to barracks without any damage. Lost pirdom had to be regained, more so when all it required was to draw more blood - and more publicity. Once he had taken pride in Azim Tariq, now he wanted him eliminated. He experimented with Rabita Committee to run party affairs, and brought up Senator Ishtiaq Azhar (who is back in the background).
Elections were once again held in 1993, this time under the supervision of Moeen Qureshi's caretaker government. Altaf Hussain boycotted the elections, then he participated in it, so that he missed the national assembly polls, but relented in time for elections to Sindh assembly. The early days of 1993 had proved beyond doubt that MQM politics consisted in rioting, terrorism and eliminating political dissenter, and that the only concern of the party remained the individual interests of its leaders. Renouncing politics, and then revoking the renunciation, was both dictated by personal interests. It also became increasingly clear during this year that Altaf Hussain will not return to the country.
Attention was drawn to this following Murtaza Bhutto's return to the country after 16 years of exile. Many people thought Altaf, too, should make a comeback, but Altaf only contented himself with asking people in his telephonic addresses whether he should come back. Towards the end of 1993, MQM began to move its fighting network against the government and still continues on that path. Meanwhile, whatever little politics its leaders in Karachi are playing is meant to save there own skin; if they withdraw the drill machine of one terrorist or another might turn them cold.
Four basic features marked MQM activities during 1993:
They failed to gain the advantage for an Urdu speaking individual or community
They failed to promote trust and understanding with other parties
They failed to show MQM as an organized and active political opposition
They failed to promote democratic values.
On the contrary, the group used its leverage to restore peace in Karachi to demand particular ministerial portfolios, other concessions and the withdrawal of criminal cases against some of its leaders. The idea was to return to the era of mass plunder by the likes of M.A. Jalil and Ishratul Ebad. MQM is trained in using terrorism and destruction as its only political weapons, and which had no respect for civilized, enlightened politics.
On February 10, 1993, 13 persons were killed in a bomb attack in Kotri. On February 12, Azim Tariq excused himself from joining forces with Haqiqi. On March 12, Altaf Hussain revoked his decision to renounce politics, and announced that since Azim Tariq had breached his confidence, he was handing the party to the care of the Rabita Committee.
On March 14, DIG Jails was killed in a parcel bomb attack. On March 18, Azim Tariq courted arrest. Two days later he was released on bail. On May 1, he was assassinated by terrorists led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Hashamuz Zafar (Khalid is presently living with Altaf Hussain in London). On May 4, Tareq Javed was elected the new chairman of the party. On September 18, Haqiqi called a citywide strike. On October 1, MQM announced its decision to boycott elections. Altaf Hussain reiterated this position on October 4. On October 7, the group reversed its decision and announced that it will participate in the provincial polls.
On October 25, the new chief minister of Sindh, Syed Abdullah ordered to create the new district of Malir in Karachi division. Altaf Hussain used this decision as a plank to shape his new fighting strategy against democracy. True to his Hitlerian elements, Altaf was once again flexing muscles to bring terrorism in Karachi.
1994
MQM spent Rs 30 million of its ill-earned money on more or less fifty telephonic addresses made by Altaf Hussain from London during 1994. Since MQM never encouraged questions, no one among Altaf's telephonic audience had the thought or the courage to ask where this money came from, or to what end was it being used? It was being used to sow the seeds of separatism in people's minds.
The spell of the telephonic addresses was carried to the public at large during the funeral procession of Tanvir Ahmad, an MQM activist killed in an encounter with the police. The mourners chanted the slogans of "break Pakistan", which were shown to the world by India's ZeeTV on February 20, 1994. Earlier, newspapers had reported another slogan gaining currency among the party rank and file: Formula for peace in Sindh, "half for you, half for us".
On February 11, 1994, while addressing on phone the party workers in Azizabad, Altaf Hussain had said that the establishment of Malir district was a sign of slavery for Mohajirs, and that Mohajirs would rather die than being enslaved. We cannot live in this kind of Sindh", he further said. On February 18 Altaf telephonically addressed sympathizers in Karachi's Hasrat Mohani Hall. He asked them, "how long will you wait, how will you live"? The audience responded, "half for you, half for us". The boycott of daily Jang was announced in this meeting and it was decided that hawkers would not be permitted to distribute Jang the next morning.
On March 3, MQM MPA Arif Siddiqui tried to attack MQM's estranged member, Shamim Ahmad, inside the assembly building. Local bodies' minister, Nadir Magsi, prevented the attack by coming in the way. The scheming MQM's members later tactfully drew his armed guards into an ugly conflict. Although Nadir Magsi tried his utmost to avoid scandalous fallout, defending an overtly offensive Arif Siddiqui against his own guards, MQM had succeeded in creating an issue (The Frontier Post Lahore, March 4, 1994).
MQM activists burnt three vehicles in protest over this incident, and killed two persons in Liaquatabad where an Eid bazaar was in progress. Four persons were wounded in that attack. Life was disrupted in Karachi. Three days later, an MQM death squad, headed by Kamran Jaffery, put five Rangers and police officials, including a captain of Pakistan Army, against the wall in Baldia town and pumped hundreds of bullets into them. The group later shamelessly denied any involvement in this incident. In order to boost its strength, MQM called a strike on March 27 in which tree persons were killed and 17 vehicles burnt.
On April 13, on a telephonic address to audience in Azizabad's Khurshid Begum Complex, Altaf Hussain said, "If Sindh is divided, we won't be responsible for it". He further said: "Friends. Listen to me carefully. Those of you who were given receipts for contributions should deposit the sums with sector incharge. If the sector people are listening let them send it to me in London. Some sectors haven't sent me their zakat and fitra deposits. If you don't send it, you won't get new receipts. Understand? For God's sake expedite the transfer of money, these contributions are the secret of our success. And listen, help the circulation of daily "Amn". Read every word of the statements published in this newspaper. And one more thing, our comrades are in jails. Send contributions for them too. I want to help them.
On April 26, MQM launched is campaign to offer voluntary arrests, but it fizzled out in three days. On April 29, two persons were killed during a clash between the police and MQM activists. Many policemen were wounded in the clash. During yet another telephonic address, the Pir who cast his spell from across seven seas was saying, "carry your excesses to the limit. But Mohajirs will not break. Sindh will break".
Up to May 4, six people died in rioting in Gulbahar, Nazimabad and elsewhere in the city. On May 26, MQM staged a demonstration in Washington.
On June 11, MQM restarted firing in the city. Three persons were killed in Landhi on June 12. On June 20 a local court issued un-bailable warrants of arrest against Altaf Hussain and others in the murder case of Senator Mohsin Siddiqui. On June 28, MQM operatives killed SHO Bahadur Ali alongwith six other policemen.
In July, attacks on mosques and Imambargahs in Karachi started taking place. On July 13, six persons were killed in an attack on a bus. On July 24, four persons, including a cop and an Edhi Trust volunteer, were killed in an attack on Imambargah Kashmiri. MQM Haqiqi's finance secretary, Sardar Ahmad, was killed on August 8. In reaction to this, trouble broke out in Karachi Central and East in which two persons were killed and nine vehicles put on fire. Factional clashes led to three more deaths on August 11. On August 17, unidentified assailants killed notorious terrorist, Ashraf Langrha. On August 18, six dead bodies, stuffed in gunny bags, were recovered form different parts of the city.
On September 10, Altaf Hussain sated that "Mohajirs want their geographical boundaries to be determined" (Qaumi Akhbar). On September 17, eight, persons died in incidents of indiscriminate firing in different parts of Karachi. On September 26, three persons were arrested and 49 weapons recovered during an operation in Lines Area. 320 weapons were recovered during a search operation in Korangi.
On October 1, in an interview with the Voice of America, Altaf Hussain said: "Although we have only invited suggestions on a separate province, a new province will be in the interest of the country" (daily Amn, Oct 2, 1994). In another statement the following day, Altaf said that the creation of a new province would result in everyone getting his due rights.
On November 11, firing in Gujjar Nala, Abbasi Shaheed and Gulbahar areas led to the killing of eight persons, including an officer of Pakistan Air Force. On November 19, continuing violence in Liaquatabad and Korangi resulted in the death of 12 persons, including a police constable. 21 persons were injured. Police and army vehicles also came under attack.
In December 1994, 49 persons were killed, including 10 police officials. Police paid a heavy price for fighting terrorism in Karachi in 1994. 70 policemen were killed during this year, which also saw the death of six Rangers and four army personnel. Government officials remained the targets of terrorist, and it was a harassed and demoralized police force that took over after the army pulled out on November 30, 1994.
1995.
But while a new official strategy was soon to lift the police's morale and place it on a higher ground against a weakening terrorist outfit, the latter diversified its targets in order to preserve its leftover strength. This augured ill for those laborers who had come to Karachi from such far-flung areas as Hazara, Faisalabad and Khushab to earn a living. They became the targets of a new look strategy of terrorism in 1995.
Apart from this, Karachiites also saw the worst form of religious fanaticism emerge on Karachi's political scene, and then die its own death, in 1995. Hundreds of people died in terrorist attacks in the first ten months of this year.
As many as 433 persons died in the first three months of 1995 alone. The victims included 234 nonpartisans, 56 TNFJ activists, 49 Haqiqi activists, 38 activists of Sipah-e-Sahaba, 28 activists of MQM and 28 Rangers and police personnel.
The holy month of Ramzan in 1995 began with the killing of three persons including two women. On February 4, 11 persons were killed in terrorist attacks in Gulberg, Hyderabad Colony and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. On February 5, the government Pakistan observed a solidarity day with the Kashmiris, and rallies were held all over the country to back the Kashmiris' cause. But MQM refused to take part in it. On the contrary, it embarked on a retaliatory campaign, leading to the death of 20 persons in different acts of terrorism in the city.
The dead included 11 workers of the Harkatul Ansaar organisation who were manning a Kashmir day camp in Liaquatabad. Six persons were killed on February 7, three persons died in factional fighting on February 10, and two persons were killed on February 11. On February 13, masked gunmen shot dead 11 persons, including five children. Five persons, including a Haqiqi activist, were killed on February 15, while three persons were shot dead near Nazimabad's Gol Market on February 16. On February 17, three persons including an MQM activist were killed. On February 18, 10 persons, including four Shia brothers, were killed. On February 19, three persons were killed, including a sub-editor of weekly Jhalak magazine.
Seven persons were killed on February 20,three on February 21, five on February 22,and three on February 23. Senator, Shafqat Mahmood, in a statement condemned MQM leader Anwar Khan's close working with the Indian delegation during Geneva conference, and called upon the MQM either to disown Anwar Khan or admit to its links with the Indian government. Seven persons were killed on February 24. 25 more were killed on February 25, including 20 worshippers in a city Imambargah. Four persons were killed on February 27. ON February 28, president of Mehran Bank, Younus Habib, was sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment for embezzling more than two billion rupees, including Rs 140 million, which he had paid to Mirza Aslam Beg.
On March 1, Altaf Hussain vowed that he would never allow Karachi to become a city of Punjab. He said that bad days were yet in store for the city. On this day, two PSF workers were killed. On March 2 (the eve of Eidul Fitr), seven persons were killed PECH Society. On Eid day, two Haqiqi activists were shot dead in the Jamshed Quarters area. The next day an MQM activist was killed. Nine persons were killed on March 5, including a Rangers sleuth, three police officials and five Haqiqi activists. On March 6, four persons were killed including a police constable. Two police officials were among the six persons killed on March 7.
On March 8, terrorists killed seven persons including two officials of US consulate. Ten persons were killed on March 9. On March 10, the black Friday, 21 people were killed, including eight children who died in a bomb blast near Malir's Hussainia mosque. Four persons were killed on March 11. On March 12, MQM activists' raid on Haqiqi's Pak Colony office resulted in the death 12 persons. Four more persons were killed on March 13. Three persons died on March 17, five on March 18 and two on March 19. Two persons were killed on March 20, and three including a cop, were killed on March 21. The same day the government announced to launch action against terrorists in Karachi. Sindh government held an all parties' conference for the restoration of peace in Karachi, but MQM refused to attend. Two persons were killed on March 26, two on March 27, and three on March 28.
In the month of April, 88 persons were killed in terrorist attacks, factional fighting and police encounters. The victims included 26 nonpartisans, 21 personnel of law enforcing agencies, 13 activists of MQM, 13 Haqiqi activists, 11 activists of Sipah-e-Mohammad, four activists of Sipah-e-Sahaba and one PPP activist.
Clashes between the two MQM groups intensified during April. The April 24 police actin against MQM to vacate its occupation of Mir Garden in Hyderabad prompted the group to intensify its action against the government officials as well. Rocket launchers came in use for the first time in these months, and government properties as well as Rangers check posts were targeted with these heavy weapons.
Altaf Hussain in a statement said that constitution be amended to pave the way for his party's demands. MQM terrorist, Zahid Andha, was arrested on April 8. He was responsible for burning a Blue Lines coach, and with it seven passengers, near Al-Karam square in Liaquatabad. On April 18, terrorists killed eight persons in North Nazamabad, including four Haqiqi activists. On April 25, 15 private and government vehicles were set on fire in Hyderabad. On April 27, 16 vehicles, a post office and a pumping station were burnt in Hyderabad. On April 29, terrorists raided a Rangers checkpoint, the Rangers' camp and a police station, killing one police ASI.
In May 1995, 35 personnel of law enforcing agencies were killed. Other victims of terrorism included 72 nonpartisans, 16 activists of MQM 7 Haqiqi activists and four activists of PPP. Most victims were kidnapped, tortured, killed, and their bodies dumped in various parts of the city. These incidents started in May, and continued into July, 289. Of these, 434 were nonpartisans. 52 members of the law enforcing agencies, 29 activists of MQM, 19 Haqiqi activists.
35 persons were killed and 89 vehicles burnt during the first five days of June. Pushto speaking people suffered the most losses in terms of property. They protested, and MQM had to issue a statement from London telling his activists not to burn transport, but to continue with the strikes. This was a most significant statement. Altaf ordered an end to the burning of transport. If his activists were not involved in arson, as his party leaders have been asserting time and again, he would have no need to issue such a directive.
On May 5, the US consulate announced that in future it would issue visas from Lahore. The reason cited for this decision was terrorism in Karachi. On the Eidul Azha day (May 10), terrorists attacked Shah Faisal police station, killing one police constable. Seven persons, including Rangers personnel, were killed on May 12. On May 14, Pakistan announced that it would observe a black day on May 19 in protest over the desecration of Charar Sharif shrine in Kashmir. On the eve of the black day, on May 18, terrorists in citywide attacks killed 15 persons, including a Rangers officer. Also, arsonists put on fire five vehicles and a saving center. On May 19, MQM remained quite. It called a mourning day on May 22. Acts of terrorism on the eve of the day led to the killing of five persons and the burning of several vehicles. On the day itself, terrorists killed 23 persons, including 4 policemen, Rangers personnel and a PPP activist.
In the month of June, MQM embarked on a strategy to ignite linguistic riots all over Sindh. Though the strategy failed to pay dividends, many Karachi based persons with families in the interior Sindh or elsewhere in the country lost their lives in the process. In this connection, a group of MQM terrorists raided the KDA registration office in Liaquatabad's Supermarket area. 10 Sindhi-speaking officials were isolated from the rest of the staff, and shot dead. MQM terrorists Rehan Kana and Saeed Cheetah were involved in this operation. The story was almost entirely told by a local evening paper, Awam, on that day, but complete details came to light after the arrest of Saeed Cheetah and his subsequent narrative before the press in Islamabad.
The Supermarket incident blew up in the face of MQM. The party stood exposed and a feeling of resentment was unmistakably rising among the people. MQM countered this by hitting at a tender spot of people's psyche. It engineered the dishonoring of women in a series of incidents to appease public opinion. The first to suffer this ignominy was Farzana Sultan. MQM alleged that more than men ****d her on June 22. Medical reports drawn by both the Sindh government and the Aga Khan hospital.
These reports are attached in end of this report. However, negated MQM version. But this did not stop MQM from calling for day of mourning with its concomitant loss of human life and property. A close associate of late Azim Tariq and a potential witness of his murder case, S.M. Tariq, was killed during this unrest MQM promptly laid the blame on official agencies. On June 25, the government was served a 48-hour notice to arrest the molesters of Farzana and the killers of S.M. Tariq. On June 26, Rabita Committee announced a weekly strike on Fridays and Saturdays with the express purpose of crippling the country economically.
Between January and June 1995, police killed 57 terrorists and arrested 319 others in 143 encounters. On June 1, bomb blasts took place in Sindh Assembly and Lyari area. Rocket attacks were launched against the police in Orangi. On June 2, terrorists hit and blasted several electric transformers in Karachi Central, besides setting 25 vehicles on fire. 38 more vehicles were burnt on June 3. On June 4, 10 persons were killed and 20 vehicles set on fire. Life in Karachi Central came to a standstill, and daily wage earners girded their loins to face another spell of starvation. On June 5, seven persons were killed and 17 vehicles burnt. Ten persons, including five policemen, were killed on June 10. A child was killed in an RPG attack in Clifton area on June 11.
Nine persons were killed, including two policemen. On June 15, 24 persons were killed, including the 10 Sindhis who were lined up and shot in the KDA registration office located at 3rd floor of Super market in Liaquatabad. RPGs again figured on June 21. Ten persons were killed. On June 22, Farzana Sultan was brought to Karachi Press Club at 9:30 p.m. for a press conference. On June 24, terrorists burnt four bogies of Chanab Express, and robbed the weapons they were carrying for Rangers in Karachi. 30 persons were killed and 23 vehicles burnt on June 25.
Law enforcing agencies came into action in July. Government issued orders that terrorist control over some government property and a number of private houses in Korangi area be vacated. On July 5,6, 13 and 24, the police engaged terrorists in encounters, killing 10 and arresting 6. Property and arms recovered from these terrorists included 11 stolen vehicles and two motorbikes, two wireless sets, a klashnikov, a rocket launcher, four rifles, two pistols, a repeater gun and 559 rounds of ammunition. An operation of the same nature was conducted in Orangi on July 2, 5, and 23 in which 55 criminals, including 31 Bengalis, were arrested.
MQM called violent strikes on June 30, July 1, 7, 8 and 9. On July 1, 19 persons including a police ASI were killed, while 17 more persons died on July 2, including a Rangers officer and a police constable. Six persons were killed on July 3, and six more were killed on July 4, including a woman and a cop. 11 persons died on July 5, eight on July 6, 11 on July 7, 13 on July 8, 10 on July 9, six on July 10. On July 1, 16 persons including two PPP activists, two cops, a doctor and a woman were killed. On July 12, six persons including a police ASI were killed. On July 13, 12 persons were killed including a police ASI. Four persons were killed on July 14, 10 including a PTV employee were killed on July 15, while eight persons including an army lance naik, a PPP activist and the crime reporter of daily Sang-e-Meel were killed on July 16.
On July 29, terrorists shot and killed the son of a local PML (Nawaz) leader who had in a TV appearance appreciated the Rangers' action against terrorists in Orangi. On August 2, the dreaded MQM terrorist, Farooq Dada (whom Altaf Hussain insisted on calling Farooq Patni), was killed in police encounter alongwith comrades Ghaffar Mada, Javed Michael and Babar Deputy. Police in 15 murder cases wanted Dada, which in the local Karachi slang means a bully.
In retaliation, the MQM terrorist killed 24 persons, including SDM Nawaz Khushk, on August 3. On August 6, another front ranking MQM terrorist, Fahim commando, was arrested alongwith three other terrorists. Commando was wanted in murder cases of sub-inspector Bahadur Ali, Haqiqi leader Mansoor Chacha, MQM leader S.M. Tariq two DSPs and one Ds Ranger. On August 15, another MQM terrorist, Tariq Commando, was arrested. Sindh chief minister, in a statement, termed as "sick" the terrorists who were dumping dead bodies in gunny bags.
During the month of August, MQM lost most of its topnotch terrorists either through voluntary surrender, arrest during police raids, or death in encounters with the police. MQM another morning call for August 23, in which four persons were killed and 18 vehicles set on fire. Shopkeepers pulled down shutters fearing violence, but the wheel did not jam. On August 24, 11 persons died in acts of terrorism. The victim included four residents of Jacobabad. On August 26, eight persons were brought together in a Moosa Colony house, and killed.
On September 1, MQM again fell back on the use of women to give the administration a bad name. This time a woman activist of the party, Seema Zarrin, was presented to the people as a victim of police excesses. Using this as an issue MQM called for another strike on September 4, in which five persons were killed and 12 vehicles burnt. On September 6, Karachiites celebrated the defense day with unusual enthusiasm, but MQM did not participate in these celebrations. On September 7, its terrorists struck, killing 11 persons. Another protest day was called by MQM on September 10 in which four persons, including a constable, were killed. 18 vehicles were also set ablaze. The same day, Sindh chief minister displayed a poster in the assembly, which was used by MQM in its international campaign against Pakistan.
The poster sported slogans against Pak Army. On September 16, eight persons were killed including three traffic cops, while six persons were shot dead on September 17. On September 18, five MQM terrorists were arrested following an encounter with the police. These terrorists were responsible for the Moosa Colony manslaughter. On September 20, seven persons were killed and 12 vehicles burnt to set the pace for another strike on September 21. Six more persons were killed and four vehicles torched on the day of the strike.
While MQM was still successful in paralyzing life in the city by calling frequent strikes, the backbone of its terrorist wing had been broken. Fear of terrorism remained a real one, yet some measure of confidence was being restored among the people about the ability of the government to contain MQM excesses. It was becoming increasingly clear that through frequent strike calls, common people were being made to suffer for terrorists every single one of whom had his hands stained in the blood of at least 10, and in some cases as many as 40 innocent people.
1996
On 3rd Jan, MQM called for strike in which three innocent citizens were killed and numerous vehicles were set ablaze in Karachi. (Pakistan Observer 4-1-96)
MQM gave new conditions for talks to federal government on the same day. (The Muslim 4-1-96).
On 4th Jan, MQM team including Senator Ishtiaq Azaar and Kahlid Bokhari met the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Johan Rolzeman and gave him the exaggerated view of situation in Karachi. Talking to newsmen senator said
"Today's meeting with US acting ambassador was beginning of was campaign and MQM - A leaders would continue meeting foreign ambassadors in Islamabad to put pressure on Pakistan". (The Muslim 5-1-96).
Altaf Hussain in January 1996 gave an interview to "Frontline" from London to Anjali Moday Altaf again threatened in his usual manner and said, "If anything happens, the MQM will not be responsible; "
On 17th Jan, the federal government approved MQM's, another request and granted Rs. 5 lakh for the Hasrat Mohanni Memorial library and Hall trust. It was a gesture of goodwill from the government to MQM to change its nature. (The News 15-1-96).
On the same day, rockets were fired at MQM (H) headquarters in Landhi and Haqiqi's Chief Afaq Ahmed Khan accused the MQM-A and its militants of the attack and alleged that it was carried out on the orders of self-exiled chief Altaf Hussain. (Dawn 18-1-96).
Ajmal Dehlvi came back Pakistan on 18 Jan after fifteen days visit to London.
On 29th Jan, MQM (A) demanded reconstitution of the negotiating team of the Government.
On 1st Feb, MQM, terrorist claimed the responsibility of killing at least one person personally and scores of others in collaboration with other activists on behest of Altaf Hussain. (Pakistan Observer, The Muslim, Pakistan Times 2- 2-96).
On the same day four MQM activists were arrested in Saudi Arabia who were working there. (The Muslim 2-2- 1996).
The very same day Ajmal Dehlvi warns government that MQM will disrupt world cup matches. (Frontier Post Peshawar/The Muslim Islamabad 3-2-96).
On 12th Feb Mr. Zubair Akram Nadeem (MNA & the member of the government negotiating team who was lately killed by the terrorists of same party) held talks with Ajmal Dehlavi
On 15th Feb, ex-MNA and prominent leader of MQM Kunwar Khalid Younus took another dramatic move. He was brought to the STA court situated next door to the U.S. Consulate. He sought to the policeman permission to the library and surrendered himself to consulate of seeking political asylum but US Consul-General Karachi handed over Kunwar Khalid to the SSP south. (The Nation, Pakistan Times, Nawa-e-Waqt 16-2-96).
On the same day, Syed Yareed Shahadat alias Shoaib, an MQM activists involved in the murders of at least twenty persons including the murder of Ehsan Ali Shah, brother of ex-chief minister Sindh.
Giving the details of murder of Ehsan Ali Shah he said "Nazimuddin, sector incharge of Federal B Area informed that he had got instructions from London (Altaf Hussain) to kill Ehsan Ali Shah."(The Muslim, Pakistan Times, Nawa-I-Waqt, Pakistan Observer 16-2-96).
On 19th Feb, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench for the release of Dr. Mohd Moin who was arrested in Saudi Arabia and handed over to Islamabad by Jeddah. (The Muslim 20 -2-96)
On 28th Feb 1996, 3 MQM workers confessed plan to kill religious leaders with the assistance of a sectarian group along with numerous murders and dacoities. (The Nation 29-2-96)
On 29th Feb a terrorist belonging to MQM (A) confessed that he along with other MQM (A) terrorists had been setting vehicles on fire, attacking police pickets and public and private properties on the directives issued by "nine-zero" the central headquarter of MQM (A) in Karachi, while the nine-zero used to receive such directives from Pir Sahib (Altaf Hussain) in London. (Frontier Post, Peshawar 1-3-96)
European parliament passed a joint resolution in 15th Feb which exclusively blamed MQM's two factions for the "human rights abuses and violence" in the urban centers of Sindh, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad. (The Nation 3-3-96).
On 5th March, 2 kidnapped persons were recovered from the custody of MQM men.( Pakistan Times 6-3-96)
On the same day government agreed to order a judicial inquiry into the charges leveled by MQM. (Dawn 6-3-96)
Visa sections of American Embassies discouraged the visa applications forwarded by MQM's workers (Jang 12-3-96)
On 25th March, Lahore police officially announced the arrest of 8-member gang of terrorists. The gang was said to be involved in 300 murders and several dacoities in Karachi and Lahore. The member of gang confessed the plan to sabotage the Cricket World Cup final "though they could not act upon it due to strict security measures". (The Nation, Islamabad 26-3-96).
On 27th March another MQM activist Aleem-uddin confessed 14 murders in a press conference which he did on the directives from Altaf Hussain (Nawa-I-Waqt Rawalpindi 28-3-96)
Shamim Ahmed (the Sindh health minister of that time) announced another faction of MQM, Which one is a true representative of Mohajir God knows. (The News Rawalpindi 2-4-96)
On 3rd April MQM Indian connections were once again exposed when in a seminar organized by Delhi based NGO Mohd Aris, MQM's representative "exactly playing at his master's voice went on to venom spitting spree against Pakistan, at the behest of Indian mentors. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 4-4-96)
"Pakistan Times" wrote that the singular objective of this seminar was to down play the liberation struggle in Held Kashmir.
On 9th April, four MQM terrorists were arrested in Multan, who were involved in 13 cases of murder, six cases of abduction murder and several other crimes. Those arrested admitted that they were very close to the MQM high command and involved in subversive activities, murders, arson, looting and abductions.( The Nation Islamabad Jang - Rawalpindi 10-4-96)
On 10th April another MQM terrorist Nadeem Chita got arrested from Azizabad Karachi. His name was included in the list of 39 most wanted criminals. His arrest carried the reward of Rs one million.(Pakistan Observer Islamabad 1-4-96)
On 12th April a delegation of MQM went to Geneva to attend the session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission to propagate the violations of human rights in Pakistan.
Asked by the BBC about their activities the delegation leader Mohammad Anwar said, "We have three books. The Title of one "genocide of Mohajirs" the second is "Death Warrant", and third book is a catalogue.
He added "these three books we are distributing here and we are also lobbying. There is a representation of about 152 countries at the UNIRC and we have so for contacted more than 100 countries". (Pakistan Observer Islamabad 13-4-96)
On 15th April MQM (A) unit chief held and arms recovered from him. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 16-4--96)
On 17th April a rally was held in London to press the demand for deportation of MQM-A leader Altaf Hussain. (The News Rawalpindi 18-4-96i)
During the same month once again MQM (A) used Indian-sponsored NGOs to defame Pakistan at International level. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 18-4-96)
On 7th May, ex-councilors of MQM got arrested alongwith 6 other terrorists of MQM (A). Councilors were involved in more than 25 cases of kidnapping, murder and terrorism. (Pakistan Times Islamabad 8-5-96)
On 10th May, Sindh government spokesman strongly condemned the MQM's strike on killing of terrorists and said it clearly shows the open support and patronage of terrorists by MQM (A). (Pakistan Times 11-5-96)
This strike which was called to mourn the death of five terrorists was failed to draw much response. 4 vehicles were set on fire. (Pakistan Times, Islamabad 13-5-96)
On 17th May, FIA stopped Javed Langhra's (an MQM terrorists in India) family from leaving for India because they failed to produce the necessary documents. (The Nation Islamabad, Pakistan Observer, Jang 18-5-96)
On 21st May 1996 a report was published in "The Nation" in which Khalid Qayum explained that the MQM delegation at the H.R.C. session in Geneva was conducted by two persons Ashoke Bhan and Pandita, both having "affiliation" with RAW. (The Nation 21-5-96)
On 27th May five MQM terrorists got arrested and an LMG with 250 rounds, two 7 MM rifles, five T.T. pistols and hundreds of rounds were recovered from them. (The Nation Islamabad 28-5-96)
Two MQM terrorists were arrested on I June and arms and ammunition were recovered from them including a light machine-gun along with stand and 400 rounds, 10 motor bombs, three complete rocket propelled grenade (RPG). 7 shells and 100 rounds of klashnikov from a store. (The News Rawalpindi 2-6-96)
On 9th June, 2 more terrorists of MQM (A) were arrested and two TT pistols with bullets were recovered from their possession. (Pakistan Times, Pakistan Observer 10-6-96).
On 16th June Karachi police arrested Azhar Sayyan and Naseem Pajama wanted terrorists of MQM along with two kaloshnikovs, four magazines and 42 rounds. Azhar was wanted in more than 50 cases and police in 27 cases wanted Naseem. (Pakistan Observer Islamabad 17-6-96)
On 25th June, 3 more MQM terrorists were arrested by Karachi police in two different raids and a T.T. pistol and a repeater were recovered from their possession. (The Muslim 26-6-96)
On 8th July police arrested three MQM- (A) terrorist recovered two TT pistols and a kaloshnikov from their possession. These terrorists were involved in different murder cases also. (The News, 9-7-96)
On 16th July Korangi police after an encounter arrested Amjad Chitta a notorious criminal belongs from MQM - (A) with a 30-bore pistol with four rounds. (Pakistan Observer, 17 -7-96)
On 21st August Hafiz Osama Qadri former MPA and an active member of MQM - (A) was arrested Government had announced Rs. 10 lakh. Reward on his arrest. He was nominated in more than 50 cases of murders and other crimes including attack on the house of Editor Takbeer, late Salahuddin. (The News 22-8-96)
On 26th August The Brigade police arrested 3 MQM activists involved in murder, attempted murder, robbery and to her heinous crimes. Police also recovered four Kaloshanikovs, two repeaters, one short gun and a 7MM rifle from their possessions. (The News 27-8-96)
On 1st September former MPA of MQM-A Hifiz Osama Qadri who was arrested on the charges of heinous crimes denied the allegations that he was being tortured during interrogations before the press. (The News Rawalpindi 2-9-96)
On 11th Sept a lady MPA of MQM-A Feroza Begum defected from this party and joined Sindh Cabinet and said that she was underground but she thought it better to come out and work to save her life (Pakistan Observer, The Muslim Islamabad, Dawn, Nawa-e-Waqt 12-9-96)
On 1st October 1996 The CIA and District Central Police arrested nine more activists of MQM- (A) from different areas of Karachi, recovered four hand grenades, one klashnikov and two TT pistols, one revolver and 1500 KK rounds from them. (Pakistan Observer 2-10-96)
On 5th October, Over two dozen MQM activists arrested in different encounter from different places. These persons were wanted in different cases of murder and dacoity. Arms were recovered from them. (The Nation Islamabad 6-10-96)
On 10th October four MQM - (A) men were arrested. Two of them Nadeem alias Bangali, and Yousaf alias Bal were close associates of Javed Langra (terrorist of MQM -A working with RAW). A klashnikov rifle and a TT pistol were recovered from them. (The News 11-10-96)
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) refused granting asylum to three frontline MQM (A) men including party's senior Vice Chairman Saleem Shahzad.( The News 22-12-96)
1997
On 3rd Jan, in an article in "the News" an independent news daily of our country Javed Soomro an eminent written wrote
"At the initial stage of its formation, the MQM, by virtue of being a party with massive support in the cities, came to be known as a party of the middle class.
At the ideological and practical level, the MQM, however undertook the policies and practices which were contrary to the characteristics of a middle-class party."
He further added "All over the world middle class parties have traditionally aligned themselves with democratic and progressive forces and had advocated grand alliances with suppressed classes and nationalities. MQM contrary to all these recognized characteristics, never ever attempted to provide leadership to the vast majority of suppressed rural population". (The News 3-1-97)
On 18th Jan, the government of Sindh ordered release of two MQM senators Aftab Ahmed Shaikh and Mrs. Nasreen Jalil on parole. (Dawn, The Muslim 9-1-97 )
Political relief to MQM-A of contesting elections was given and release of its leaders on parole is one of a goodwill gesture in this regard. (Pakistan Observer 20-1-97)
It is ironical that MQM demanded disarmament of all political groups.(The Muslim, 20-1-97)
On 19th Jan, Dr Farooq Sattar got released on parole. (The News, 20-1-97)
On 20th Jan, MQM's National Assembly candidate from Rahim Yar Khan Javed Mazari was arrested along with one MQM worker. (The Muslim 21-1-97)
The election campaign of same MQM who not only a week before demanded to disarm all the political groups in Karachi, took bloody turn as both factions of MQM resorted to violence against each other. Many people were shot dead and both factions blamed each other for shooting and killing people. (Pakistan Observer 26-1-97)
On one hand MQM-A put the allegation of worst rigging in Karachi during elections (The Muslim)
On the other hand on the base of same election results they started trying for Chief Minister slot in Sindh. (The News 18-2 97).
On 12th April, three MQM (H) workers killed and one injured in different incidents of terrorism by the rival faction MQM (A). (The News Rawalpindi 13-4-97)
On 14th April, Karachi once again apprehended by a bitter faction fighting between two MQM factions. (Frontier Post Peshawar 15-4-97)
On 16th April, two MQM (H) activists killed by MQM (A) activists. (The News, Rawalpindi 16-4-97)
On 2nd May, over 500 MQM (H) activist rounded up. (The Nation Islamabad 3-5-97).
On 4th May, 70 more Haqiqi activists arrested. ( Nation Islamabad 5-5-97).
On 17th May 1997 Akhtar Payams wrote in an article " MQM must acknowledge realities" in DAWN in which he said,
"Fantasies have no place in politics. Daydreams may sustain some individuals for some time, but they cannot be converted into hard realities. The remaining of the MQM cannot work wonders".
On 23rd May, PML (N) MNAs from Sindh showed the signs of unrest on the" aggressive attitude" of MQM who was also the coalition partners of PML at that time. (The News, Rawalpindi 24 -4- 97)
On 10th June, 12 people killed in a wave of violence in Karachi- MQM (A) blamed for it. (The Muslim Islamabad 11-6-97).
On 17th June 1997 Altaf asks workers to close down all its liaison offices. (The Nation, Islamabad 18-6-97).
On the same day four persons shot dead in Karachi and both factions of MQM blamed each other as usual for it. (N.Waqt, Rawalpindi 18-6-97).
On 18th June, Government once again invited MQM for talks, as it believes in negotiations and non-violence. (Dawn, Karachi 19-6-97).
On 18th June, MQM wants army to replace rangers and now the same MQM criticizing rangers. (19-6-97 The Muslim Islamabad).
On 21st June, MQM asked its MNA, Kanwar Khalid to explain the statement in which he called for the deployment of troops in Karachi. (22-6-97 The News Rawalpindi).
According to an MQM press release faxed from London dated May 28th, Altaf Hussain told a party rally in Birmingham hat the MQM was neither against the army nor against any nationality of Pakistan. (24-6-97 The News, Rawalpindi).
On 29th June, one MQM (H) activist arrested on the charges of attacking MQM-A office. The Muslim Islamabad 30-6-97).
On 6th July four persons including a bridegroom killed in violence in Karachi and once again MQM (A) held responsible for it.( The Muslim, Islamabad 7-6-97).
On 8th July, PM urges MQM to increase cooperation with government once again.
On 9th July, three MQM workers arrested on Pak-Afghan border. (Jang, Rawalpindi 10-7-97).
MQM decided to oppose the anti-terrorist laws proposed by government, which wants to enforce in a bid to weed out terrorism from the country, reported B.B.C. (Nation, Islamabad 17-7-97).
Altaf Hussain summoned top MQM leadership to London for some "crucial decisions". (Pakistan Observer Islamabad 23-7-97).
In its editorial The Muslim Islamabad wrote on July 24 "After investigations stretching over many days, intelligence agencies have held the MQM (A) responsible for the murder of the KESE, Shahid Hamid, his bodyguard a driver."
On 26th July, MQM changed its face and name once again and this time renamed as (Muhttaida Qaumi Movement". (The Nation/The Muslim, Islamabad 27-7-97).
Aziz Bughio wrote in his article "what if name changed!" that change in the name is not a very optimistic thing "Unless the MQM charges its designs and approach to politics" (The Muslim, Islamabad, 3-8-97)
This all turned out to be very true. On 5th August, MQM (H) activists looked for DSP's murder. (The News, Rawalpindi 6-8-97).
On 14th August, MQM rejected bill on terrorism. (Dawn, Karachi 5-8-97)
MQM's armed terrorists kidnapped the workers of Jamaat Islami and left near graveyard after threatening and torturing them. (Jasarat Karachi, 2-9-97).
On 7th September, Syed Ishtiq Azhar, Convenor, coordination committee been renamed from part convenership on serious violations of party disciplines. (The Muslim, Islamabad 8-9-97)
"The News" wrote on 9th September "Ishtiaq forced to resign for links with MQM-H" (The News, Rawalpindi 9-9-97).
On 10th September, 20 MQM Haqiqi activists arrested. (The Muslim Islamabad 11-9-97)
Ishtiaq reactivates Mohajir Rabita Council, which was merged, with the Altaf led MQM way back in 1991. (The News, Rawalpindi 12-9-97).
On 14th September, Ishtiaq Azhar alleged that he was forcibly removed from the party position because he had been opposing extortion in the name of the party. (Dawn, Karachi 15-9-97)
MQM (H) asked British government to oust Altaf Hussain alias Adolf Hitler from London. (The Nation, Islamabad 28-9- 97).
On 2nd October, MQM faction pitched battles, in which three killed, 6 vehicles set ablaze. (Frontier Post, Peshawar 3-10-97).
MQM feared Haqiqi attacks on Liaquatabad. (Dawn, Karachi 4-10-97)
On 8th October 1997 MQM-A demanded the arrest of MQM (Haqiqi) official Tehseen Zafar who had been sent by his party to open an office in London, they also called him drug smuggler. The MPAs of MQM (A) in the statement said that MQM (H) was terrorizing the residents of Landhi, Korangi, Malir and Shah Fairal colony. (Dawn 9-10-97)
On 12th October Afaq Ahmed of MQM (Haqiqi) demanded re-elections on MQM seats and said that Mohajir had rejected MQM (A) and its leader Altaf Hussain altogether. (N.Waqt, 13-10-97)
On 23rd October, Chief Organizer MQM Nizamuddin in his two-page letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair appealed to him to take action against MQM chief Altaf Hussain who was collecting money from people in the name of the poor and needy violating the charity regulations. This is to be noted that this Mr. Nizamuddin was the personal bodyguard of Altaf Hussain when he was in Pakistan. (The Nation, 24-10-97)
1998
The Nation "in its Editorial note of 10th Jan 1998 while discussing the "No Go Areas" of MQM has said, "No Go Areas was a peculiar self-defence concept to begin with but in the polarised city of Karachi this was perhaps the only way for the two rival of MQM factions from continuing to kill each other."
On Jan 10th three persons including one woman were killed while five others injured in indiscriminate firing in MQM factions clash. (The Muslim, The Nation11-1-98)
On 16th Jan. 1998 Birg. A.R. Siddiqi published a news analysis about the clashes between rival MQM groups, in which he said, serial shoot-outs and armed encounters between the workers of the mainstream (Muthaidda) and breakaway (Mohajir) MQM have made a virtual hostage of public peace in the city's predominantly Mohajir district East - and elsewhere in the Mohajir areas. Hardly a day passes without the bad news of bloody clash amanating from there.
On 10th Jan, a wayside shoot-out at the AP - Karam Square in central District claimed three killed and several wounded - all unwary commuters. The next day - Sunday 11 Jan, saw a macabre reply claiming another three killed and an equal number wounded at the Korangi Sunday Bazar."
He further said "The tit-for-tat clashes are assuming almost the dimension of tribal blood feud and vendettas.(The Nation 16 -1-98).
On 17thJan Mohajir Qaumi Movement claimed that Muthaidda's so called missing activists were staying in various countries under fake names and that name of these activists will be released to the press.
It also said "disappearance of the Muthaidda's 28 activists is nothing but a mere drama."(Frontier Post Peshawar 18-1-98).
On 1st Feb, 2 MQM (H) men were shot dead in Karachi and Muthaidda denied the charges of involvement as usual.(The News, Rawalpindi 2-2-98).
On 7th Feb Both factions of MQM exchanged fire for almost an hour in which one person was killed.(Nawa-I-Waqt,Rawalpindi 8-1-98).
On 8th, August Dr Saghir Anasari MQM's MPA narrowly escaped when fire opened by Haqiqi terrorists but one of MQM worker Mohammed Salim sustained bullet injuries.(The Muslim, Islamabad 9-8-98)
On 13th August two MQM (Haqiqi) men were gunned down in Shah Fiasal Colony of district-East in Karachi. Syed Hodi Abbas Rizvi alias Ansar Rizvi and his neighbor Syed Athar Ali Zaidi(The Nation, Islamabad 14-8-98).
On 14 August The Peshawar Police arrested an Afghan refugee from Karachi - bound Khushal Express train at Cantonment Railway station and recovered cache of sophisticated arms from his possession that he was taking to deliver to one of the MQM factions in Karachi Police recovered two heavy boxes from the possession of the accused and during search found them full of sophisticated weapons and ammunition including 10 kalashnikovs, five 30 - bore pistols, nine hand grenades, nine buses along with 10 detonators, spare magazines and 2,500 rounds of 7.62 caliber and 30 bore.(The News Rawalpindi, 15-8- 98).
On 15th August on Muhttida's call for strike 35 shapes, 50 vehicles put on fire, and seven persons including a policeman killed and nine injured.(The Nation, Islamabad 16-8-98).
MQM quits Sindh coalition (The News, Rawalpindi 27-8-98).
On August 27th MQM infighting claims more lives. Over 60 activists arrested. (The Muslim, Islamabad 28-8-98).
On 17th Oct renowned scholar and social worker ex-governor Sindh Hakim Mohd Saeed assassinated by MQM's terrorists
Arrest & Arms
recovery from MQM
workers during
December 1998 to February 1999
Dec 9, 1998
Seven @@@@ terrorists, including a bodyguard of Altaf Hussain and the killers of Azim Ahmed Tariq arrested on December 09, 1998 from different parts of Karachi.(Frontier Post ).
Dec 10, 1998
As many as 10 alleged terrorists and extortionists belonging to both factions of MQM rounded up with arms and ammunition in Karachi. (Nation Dec 11, 1998).
Dec 11, 1998
Police arrested a most wanted terrorist of MQM, Saulat Mirza, immediately after his arrival from Bangkok at Karachi airport.(Nation). Saulat Mirza has said, Altaf Hussain has directed his workers in Belgium, S. Africa and India to reach Karachi. (Asas).
The accused Saulat Mirza has confessed that Altaf Hussain and his political secretary Nusrat Nadeem have been giving directives for carrying out disruptive activities and killing of innocent citizens. Mirza, arrested on his arrival Karachi from Thailand, was suspected on involvement in the murder of two US diplomats and four American oil company workers.
DIG Police Karachi Qureshi said that during initial interrogation accused Saulat Mirza confessed killing retired Major Shahnawaz Toor, who was incharge of the American Drug Enforcement Agency in Pakistan. He stated that the accused had also owned killing of KESC managing director Shahid Hamid, SDM Nawaz Khushk, a DSR of Rangers, several police officials, a lance naik of army, and five relatives of SP Khawaja Nisar. DIG Qureshi said that the accused has also admitted killing an office bearer of PPP, Nasir Guddu. He said that an information was received that some terrorists were fleeing the country while some were coming back.
DIG Qureshi said that on receipt of this information surveillance was mounted on the arrival and departure lounges of the Karachi Airport. He said that Saulat Mirza was arrested when he returned to Karachi from Bangkok. Qureshi maintained that accused Saulat Mirza has a background of international terrorism. Saulat Mirza, who was present at the press briefing, confessed the criminal activities carried out by him and his accomplices. He said that Major ( R ) Shahnawaz Toor who was incharge of the American Drug Enforcement agency in Pakistan, was eliminated because he was "prying." Saulat Mirza said that later he came to know that Toor's killing was ordered by the MQM leadership to spoil Pakistan's relationship with America. This was also aimed at causing economic difficulties for Pakistan so that the country could be harmed. On the killing of KESC MD Shahid Hamid, he said that the deceased had served in the IMF and was arranging loans for Pakistan and for this reason he was eliminated.
Saulat Mirza also spoke about his visits abroad and said that there are some 80 to 100 MQM boys in South Africa. He said that MQM leader Safdar Baqri went to South Africa from the US and said that he had instructions that work is to be done for the party. Baqri stated that some boys would have to go to get commando training there for carrying out disruptive activities Karachi, Saulat added. He said that many of the boys went to India and some are still there and getting training in terrorist activities. He disclosed that India was using Altaf Hussain and the MQM and it wants to break Pakistan. Saulat said that he returned to Karachi in March 98 and immediately went into hiding. On October 30 he went to Bangkok. He said he was given the task of killing the foreigners, Hussain Haqqani, Ejaz Shafi and Haleem Siddiqui. Saulat said when he was coming out of the Karachi Airport he was nabbed by the police at the taxi stand. He admitted that he had committed crimes, which are not pardonable.
Saulat said that he believed that Dr Imran Farooq was also killed by MQM partymen and added that Altaf Hussain did not tolerate any criticism and whosoever did so, was eliminated. Saulat also feared danger to the life of Dr Farooq Sattar. Accused Aslam Shaikh alias Aslam Chor (thief), who was arrested by the police from Nazimabad area, was also presented before the press. He said that in 1995 his younger brother Anwar Shaikh was killed in a rocket attack on Garden police station. Accused Aslam admitted that he was involved in attacks on police mobiles he said that in 1997 Shoaib Bukhari and Zulfiqar Haider had directed him to 'clean' SHO Aslam Hayat. He said that his conscience was pricking him and added that he was giving the statement without any pressure. DIG Qureshi said that the accused have given the statements after a few hours of interrogation. The police will also check its record, he added. (News Dec 12, 1998)
Dec 13, 1998
Another accused in Hakim Said murder case and an alleged assassin of Zuhair Akram Nadim arrested in two raids conducted by Surjani Town police and CIA Sadar respectively. Two more alleged accomplices were also arrested on being pointed by Asim, reportedly an accused in the Hakim Said murder case on a tip off police cordoned off some parts of Sector L-1 in Surjani Town of District West from where Asim was arrested. Korangi police arrested Zubair alias Landhi Wala, who according to polices has confessed his involvement in the killing saying that Asim was the first to open fire at Hakim Said from a KK rifle. On the information given by Asim raids conducted in Yousuf Goth, Surjani and Sher Shah areas. Shujauddin alias Shujoo and Habib Ullah arrested.
The main accused in Hakim Saeed case are Zulfiqar Haider, MQM MPA, Naushad alias Major Dandy, Shakir alias Langra. Zubair alias Landhi Wala, Asim, Ajzaz alias Wazir, Asif and Amirullah have been arrested. One person suspected to be Wahab Bandhani, who claims to be Hanif Kabarhi also arrested.
A CIA team raided a house in Sector 11 H, North Karachi from where Majid alias Mullah (also known as Sir) was arrested. He confessed to have killed Zuhkar Akram Nadim as well as PPP councillor and three Muslim Leaguers during interrogation, SSP CIA, Manzoor Mughal disclosed that in July 1998, terrorists belonging to Altaf Group met in Unit 77 Orangi Town where they finalised plans of assassinating Zuhair Akram Nadim' 'on July 1998, they gunned him down in Orangi when he was visiting an under construction building there. Earlier, they targeted three Muslim Leaguers near Fauji Hotel also. In May 1995 they killed Salahuddin alias Saloo, PPP Advisory Councillor and in September they killed Shahid alias Sarphata, a member of PMRC. Another alleged terrorist of MQM Aslam alias Chapta reported to be a close associate of most wanted Ajmal Pahari was arrested in Jalalabad. SHO Gulbahar Mohammad Aslam told that on a tip off, they raided a hideout located behind Subhan Bakery in Jalalabad where terrorists were hiding. The terrorists opened fire at police but retaliatory firing by police force them to flee. However, one of them, Aslam Chapta was arrested. One Kalashinkov, one 7 mm rifle, two repeaters and 3 TT pistols were recovered. Police said that Aslam Chapta was a member of Unit 18 and also was an honorary member of 'Moazzazin' committee.
SHO Gulbahar claimed that during interrogation, Aslam told them that they were planning to get back the hold of Khajji Ground area of the orders of MQM chief Altaf Hussain. He confessed Ajmal Pahari Group was involved in the killing go Zuhair Akram Nadim, Zahiruddin Babar (Jama' at-I-Islami), three Muslim Leaguers and others. The SHO further claimed that Aslam told them that Altaf Hussain always issue orders through his Secretary, Nadim Nusrat who asked Shoaib Bukhari, MQM MPA, to convey the orders to them. He also confessed to have assaulted two women whom they killed after gang **** and threw their bodies in Manghopier area.(Nation Dec 14,1998).
Dec 15, 1998
The arms used by terrorists to murder Hakim Mohammad Said recovered from a nullah near Burns Road on the pointation of an arrest accused namely Nadeem Mota, Korangi police have arrested three alleged terrorists said to be close associate of Aijaz alias Kala Munna named in over 200 heinous cases. A team of Rangers in Korangi recovered a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition. The enquiry officer of Hakim Mohammad Said case, SP Agha Mohammad Tahir ordered a raid when Nadim Mota during interrogation told the arms dumped near nullah behind Sindh secretariat. The arms seized from there included four Kalashinkovs, three TT pistols, one mauser and 300 bullets of KK rifle and pistols.(Nation Dec 16, 1998).
Dec 16, 1998
The dangerous criminal Aslam Jhapata confessed the murder of 20 people including a councillor of Jammt -e-Islami and Zohar Akram an ex MNA. According to the detail Aslam Jhapata was arrested on the 11th of December and was an active member of Mutthtida. During investigation he told the joint interrogation team that he join MQM in 1990 and when Karachi operation started in 1992 he went underground. In 1995 Pir pur police on the charges of keeping illegal weapons arrested him. In 1997 he came out from the jail and started participating in criminal activities of MQM once again.
Aslam told the investigators that in July 1998 Wasiah Jaleel called him along with Ajmal Phari, Dilwar, Jhangir Saeed to nine zero and ordered them to kill Zohair Akram. After receiving these orders they killed Zohair Akram in Orangi Town. He confessed that on the instruction of MPA Mohiuddin an sector incharge Ishtiaq, so he with the help of Zafar Nadeem Lamba and Akram Dahari Walla kidnapped five persons of Sindhi, Punjabi and Phattan nationality from different area of Orangi Town and killed them with Kalashinkov at Ghaziabad Orangi Town. On 16th June 1998 Wasiah Jaleel called Aslam Ali along with his helper at nine zero and ordered them to killed the ex councillor of Jammat-e-Islami Zaheerudin Babar. According to the report prepared by Sindh government a large number terrorist which were arrested by police after the impositions of Governors rule in Karachi has admitted that they got the training of terrorism for India.
Dec 18, 1998
Hazara Police arrested a dreaded terrorist and dacoit Raai Khan s/o Fazal Dad of MQM wanted by Karachi Police from a village of Havelian. Accused Raai Khan was also member of the gang, which murdered Hakeem Said. He was involved in several other incidents of murder and dacoity. He had committed a dacoity in Maleer Karachi in which Rs Eleven lakh were looted.(News Dec 19, 1998).
Dec 25, 1998
A prosecution witness in Hakim Said murder case on December 24, 1998 identified Amirullah Sheikh and Zubair, two activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), as the main accused involved in the killing. (News Dec 24, 1998).
Several MQM activists rounded up during siege of Korangi and its surrounding localities by law enforcement agencies. Zaman Town Police raided an abandoned house in Nasir Colony and arrested Imran alias 'Chauntees' and Imran alias Mani, both MQM activists, allegedly involved in various cases of heinous crimes. Gulbahar Police arrested Tanveer alias Chachoo and Mohammed Nasir and recovered two rifles from their possession.
The two MQM activists wanted in dozens of murder attempted murder, dacoity and kidnapping cases. The same police also arrested Tanveer, Nasir and Irfan, allegedly involved in disposing of the bodies of persons murdered at Khajji Ground. Three TT pistols also recovered from them. They admitted to disposing off 40 dead bodies. Sharifabad Police arrested Fahim alias Baryaniwala, wanted in certain criminal cases and recovered a TT pistol from him. Khawaja Ajmer Nagri Police arrested Afzal Lamba with a pistol. Afzal was wanted in four murder and firing incidents. Liaquatabad Police arrested Shakeel with a revolver.
CIA Sadar arrested Naseerullah and Khawaja Amir with two TT pistols. Mominabad Police arrested Abdul Salam and Waseem Ahmed allegedly involved in murder and kidnapping cases and recovered two pistols. Ranger and Karachi police also arrested 10 terrorist including 8 MQM activists.
A team a rangers succeeded to arrest Syed Tariq Mustafa (Arif Burger) a close companion of Ajmal Phari in a raid in Orangi town. During investigation Tariq Mustafa revealed that on the doubt of disclosing information he cut the throat of a person with the help of his friend Ehtasham in Orangi town sector 7-E lane no 6. After this he washed his hair and showed it to every one in the area so that people learn some lesson from it. Tariq Mustafa also admitted conferred to involve in some other heinous crimes including the murder of 5-labours in Ghaziabad sector 11 1/2, and of firing rocket on Sindh Secretariat. He also admitted the murder of different people in Khajji ground. Nazimabad police arrested Yousaf Chandio (Arif Dhobbi) in a raid on Paposhnagar.(NNI/Nation Dec 26,1998).
Dec 27, 1998
Rafi, alias Bubbly is an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement,on December 16, 1997 lifted a Suzuki car from House No 5 near Chandni Chowk and on the very next day abducted a first year student Ambreen from Royal Coaching Centre in Sharifabad police limits for **** and ransom. Later, he rang the parents of the abducted and asked them to manage Rs. 500,000 as ransom. The parents of that girl contacted the police and lodged a FIR into the abduction and **** of their daughter. On December 27, 1997 Bubbly was arrested by the police. (News).
Dec 28, 1998
As many as 27 accused including two Unit Incharge of the MQM were arrested as police also seized arms during their drive against criminals and 'terrorists'. SHO, Gulbahar-led police team cordoned off Muslim Centre. During houses' search, they arrested Mohammad Irfan, Incharge Unit 189, and Qaisar Abbas of MQM. Police seized TT pistols from them. (Nation Dec 29,1998).
Dec 30, 1998
New Karachi Police, after a brief encounter, arrested seven Muttahida activists involved in criminal activities and recovered arms from them.(Nation Dec 31,1998).
Dec 31, 1998
Four terrorists belonging to the MQM `confessed` the planning of assassination of the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Johannesburg during her visit to South Africa. "We also planned to create Sunni and Ismaili riots in Karachi", they further said. They were produced before reporters at Central Police Office during a Press briefing held by DIG Karachi. The DIG said that their confession proved that they wanted only to bring a bad name to Pakistan world-wide and to weaken Pakistan Surjani Town police arrested Nadim alias Civic, Irfan alias Imran, Mirza Wasee Baig and Babar Anis and recovered from their possession 3 KK including a snatched official KK rifle, two seven mm rifles, seven pistols, two revolvers, one mauser and 400 rounds.
The accused told the police that Altaf Hussain MQM chief and his Secretary Nadeem Nusrat ordered them in 1996 through Qamar Ghalib and Hamad Jilani in South Africa to kill Benazir Bhutto. But Benazir did not visit Johannesburg hence the planning failed, they said. They said since Ismailis contributed a lot to strengthen the country's economy. Hence we were ordered to kill Maulvi Akbar, who had embraced Sunni faith. This was aimed at pitting sunnis and Ismailis against each other, they said. In South Africa Qamar Ghalib and Homad Jilani extort bhatta from Memons and other traders who belong to Pakistan. One Fardia is the agent who arranges visas for visits of MQM activists from India and other countries to South Africa", they revealed. Nadim alias Civic said that more than 250 MQM activists named in heinous cases were in South Africa. (Nation Jan1,1999).
Jan 01, 1999
Anti-Terrorists Wing nabbed Iqbal from North Karachi who was reported to be the brother of Mustafa Ganja, an activist of Muttahida and was nominated in several FIRs. (Nation Jan 2,1999).
Jan 6, 1999
Karachi Pirabad Police arrested a most wanted MQM terrorist Nadeem Commando alias Street fighter from Bokhari Colony. During investigations, Nadeem Commando confessed to be involved in several under case. He is suspected to be involved in murder of an Army Police and several police personnel. (Nawa-e-Waqt Jan 7, 1999).
Jan 7, 1999
Eight Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists arrested from different areas in Karachi during search operations and arms and ammunition recovered from them. According to the detailsMohammed Asif was arrested in Nazimabad area with a pistol. He revealed that he injected poison to the hospitalised activists injured in encounters with police. Risala police arrested Ahmed Din and Akhlaq Ahmed with two pistols. Nabi Bux police wanted Akhlaq in a murder case. Mochko police arrested a truck driver Ali Mohammed and recovered two pistols and 200 rounds of klashnikov from the truck. He allegedly worked for MQM and had brought the ammunition from Balochistan. Khokhrapar police arrested Waseem Tariq, wanted in 13 cases of murder, firing, arson and police encounter. Garden police arrested Shahid alias TT from the area with a TT pistol and 100 rounds. Landhi police arrested Kashif Langra with a pistol wanted in murder and dacoity cases. (NNI/News Jan 8, 1999).
Jan 10, 1999
The Karachi police arrested six alleged workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) after an encounter in district Central's Liaquatabad area in which a police informer was killed. The police also recovered huge quantity of arms after a raid on the hideout of the alleged terrorists near Arshi Chowk at Qasimabad area in Liaquatabad.(News).
Another alleged terrorist of MQM arrested on the pointation of the terrorists whom police had arrested from katchi abadi of Qasimabad (Liaquatabad). Two KK rifles were also seized when CIA raided a hideout in Malir. Official sources reported that CIA with two Kalashnikovs from Malir 15 arrested Iqbal. He told the police that he was present during a heated discussion between Tariq Chamber and MQM chief Altaf Hussain followed by Altaf's orders of his killing complied with instantly by him with the help of another accomplice Zubair.(Nation Jan 11, 1999).
Jan 11, 1999
More than a dozen Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) activists, including a unit in-charge involved in murder and other criminal activities, arrested from Karachi. Arms and ammunition in huge quantities also recovered from them.
According to the details Abdus Salam alias Chingari allegedly responsible for killing of an ASI, a head constable and a constable in Ibrahim Haideri area last year along with his accomplices, arrested in Karachi. A TT pistol was also recovered from his possession. In raids and search operations in various parts of Liaquatabad five more suspects arrested for the incidents in which SHO Liaquatabad's brother-in-law was killed. The five persons picked up during raids in Azam Nagar, Sindhi Hotel and Peeli Kothi. Gulbahar police arrested Amjad Idrees, a joint unit in-charge of MQM, from Nazimabad and recovered a Kalashnikove from him. The accused was wanted in a number of murders firing and kidnapping cases. Surjani Town police on pointation of an under custody prisoner arrested two terrorists recovering two 7 mm rifles from an under construction building of the area with 100 rounds. Al Falah police arrested Saqib Hussain with a pistol. Aziz Bhatti police arrested Mohammed Sajid and Rehan in Gulshan and recovered two pistols from them.
Liaquatabad police arrested Haider Raza in murder and attempt the murder cases and recovered a pistol from him. Four persons including fake police sub inspector in uniform arrested from Landhi while they were collecting "bhatta" from shopkeepers. The accused, were identified as Ashraf alias Kala, who was the ringleader and was in uniform of police sub inspector, Mohammed Yousuf, Shahid and Zahid. Police also recovered four pistols from their possession.(NNI/News Jan 12,1999).
Jan 15, 1999
Police have arrested several activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) allegedly involved in terrorist and criminal activities in siege and search operations.According to the details three MQM activists were arrested after an exchange of fire from Khajji Ground in Nazimabad. They were identified as Saeed Nizami, Saleem and Aqeel. Two klashnikovs, eight revolvers and 200 rounds were also recovered from them. Police claimed that Saeed is involved in murder of three policemen and five other persons of the area. In Joharabad, three MQM activists were arrested after a brief encounter when they fired upon police from an abandoned house. They were identified as Mohammad Ali, Arman and Saleem. One 22 rifle and two TT pistols were recovered from them.The arrested persons were wanted in several criminal cases. Korangi Police arrested an activist Qurban Ali and recovered two rifles and several rounds from him. Zaman Town Police, arrested Mohammad Javed with a TT pistol. He was wanted in a number of murder, firing and arson cases.(Nation Jan 161999).
Jan 17, 1999
Police arrested four persons involved in forcibly collecting Bhata from the shopkeepers of Rainbow Center.(Nation Jan 18,1999).
Jan 22, 1999
An MQM (Altaf) MPA Afzal Anwar and a unit incharge of Mutahida Qaumi Movement Mohammad Hashim were arrested in connection with 1997 murder case of a PPP activist and his son. A police party, headed by the SHO Gulbahar, raided the house of Afzal Anwar and took away the MPA. The MPA was involved in the murder of Naeem Hasni, PPP President, district Central, Karachi and his son in 1997.
Gulishtan-e-Jauhar police arrested a Unit Incharge MQM Mohammad Hashim alias Khalid alias Hasho from a flat. He is involved in same murder case. He was also involved in ten murders and several criminal cases. The Rangers also arrested an accused Naeem Thalaywala from Liaquatabad who is involved in the murder of three army men. Afzal Anwar is the third MPA of Mutahida Qaumi Movement who was arrested as in the month of October last Shoaib Bokhari and Wakil Ahmad were arrested from Nine Zero. During the interrogation, Naeem told that the others involved in the killings are Farooq, Saghir Mota, sector incharge Shabbir Qasai, Akram Kana, Nadeem Marble-wala, Habib Safdar, Abrar, Rashid, Javed Kala, Amir and Asif.
More MQM activists allegedly involved in terrorists and criminal activities also arrested with arms and ammunition from different areas of the city. New Karachi police arrested Shahid Charibi after a shootout and recovered two 7mm rifles, a single barrel shot gun and a repeater from the spot. Afalah police arrested Shabbir Ahmed alias Farhan and recovered a G-3 rifle snatched from an official from him. Saudabad police arrested Maqbool Ahmed and Amir Raza from the area. He is involved in murder and arson cases. Two pistols were also recovered from him. Saeedabad police arrested Abdul Jabbar with a pistol. Ibrahim Haideri police arrested Suleman and recovered a rifle from him. Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police arrested Azizur Rehman with a TT pistol. New Karachi police arrested Mohammed Imran with a pistol from the area.(Nation Jan 23, 1999).
Jan 24, 1999
A considerable quantity of arms and ammunition recovered by police on the pointation of arrested terrorists of MQM. According to the details Khalid alias Pawwa, a former unit incharge was arrested in Azizabad by SHO-led police party. On his pointation, police recovered one 22 rifle, one 222 rifles, one repeater gun and over 400 bullets buried in Yasinabad graveyard. On pointation of Akram Rajput, an arm depot was raided near a mosque (Bahare Madina) in Liaquatabad from where a china rifle, a 7mm rifle, TT pistols, mauser, carbine, two 222 rifles one kk rifle and 15 shells anti-tank fuse.(Nation Jan 25, 1999).
Jan 27, 1999
The killings of hundreds of Karachiites was ordered by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, the two-under arrest MQM terrorists disclosed as the Karachi police officially declared the arrest of the two RAW-trained terrorists and their four accomplices.
Altaf Hussain has been personally giving me orders to kill, said 25-year-old Muhammad Nadeem, an under-matriculate involved in the killings of 203 persons in Kalashinkov attacks and bomb blasts, during SSP Lahore's press conference conducted prior to any identification parade of the accused, or their statement in judicial custody.
The city police chief, Ahmad Raza Tahir said that Muhammad Nadeem and his accomplice Muhammad Sarwar had killed over 200 persons including 67 in four bomb blasts, 25 in Kalashinkov attack on a passenger bus, the murder of MNA Azeem Ahmad Tariq, 10 by using head-torture clips and 84 in pillion-riding attacks. They had also kidnapped two Koreans, two Chinese and two Iranian-nationals and the government had to pay ransom for their release. They had also packed 12 bodies in sacks and stolen Rs 55 million from a Hyderabad bank by exploding its strong room door through a blast.
One of the terrorists, Muhammad Nadeem told reporters, he joined MQM in 1987 through Javaid Langra, got fire-arms training in Rajasthan, India, and how and his accomplices acted on the "direct orders" of MQM Chief, Altaf Hussain. "During the three-month training, the Indian Army had kept us in separate camps," he said, and recalled having seen between 500 and 600 MQM trainees at the Indian camps." In charge of so-called Shurfa committee and 12 sectors, the accused said he was 15 when he first committed a crime. "Since then, I never looked back," he said, adding that the money they looted was handed over to the Nine-Zero authorities. "I have met Altaf Hussain on a number of occasions in the presence of the Taj group members and was ordered to kill MNA Azeem Ahmad Tariq. I, along with my accomplices Imamud Din, Rashid Kala, Nasir Chingari and Taj had sprayed Kalashinkov bullets on a passenger bus which had left 17 dead," he said. About the bodies found I sacks, he said these were the members of the MQM and killed by MQM, "They had either refused to carry out any more terrorists act or had simply switched over to the other group," He said while explaining how the Altaf Hussain-led MQM had killed several persons and their family members for "disobeying".(Nation Jan 28,1999)
Liaquatabad police arrested two MQM workers Shafique and Arshad Kan Katta who are involved in the murder of two armymen. A Kalashinkov and T.T Pistal were recovered from their procession. These accused belong to A.S.I Naushad and Wahab Budhani group who are involved in the murder of Hakim Saeed, during investigations accused told the police that they killed two armymen on the directives of Tanzeem (MQM) and throw their bodies in Liaquatabad graveyard.(Nawa-I-Waqt Jan 28,1999)
January 31, 1999
A torture cell was unearthed by Liaquatabad police while four more terrorists including a close associate of Javed alias Langra were among those arrested on 31st Jan.
Ranger's team conducted raids in different parts of Karachi. In their raid in New Karachi, they held Ikramuddin alias Mama Bhola who is also a close associate of Javed alias Langra.
In Orangi Town of District West, Nadeem alias Pappar was reportedly arrested by Rangers. Two others viz Syed Abid Rizvi, incharge unit 180 and Muhammad Aslam were arrested from Allama Iqbal town. Arms were also recovered from them.
In Qasimabad of Liaquatabad, SHO Sarwar Commando-led police party raided a house on a tip-off where they demolished a picket established by terrorists. Police claimed that a major torture cell was being run in that building and that three armymen could also have been killed there.
In Liaquatabad No. 8, a hideout was raided where some materials used in torture also seized. Police raided the house of Rehan alias Kana in search of his brother Talha .
During their drive against anti-social elements, police rounded up some 37 accused. Police also disclosed the procedure used by MQM to send its activists abroad. The expenses were borne by its social welfare body Khidmat-I-Khalaq Foundation.The foundation also helped Zulfiqar Haider, member Sindh Assembly and main accused in Hakim Said murder case in leaving the country through Pak-Iran border on November 9, 1998 and paid cheques to Polani Travelling Agency in Karachi.
Two accused Tehseen Siddiqui and Abid involved in sending abroad the criminal activists of MQM were arrested by the police in this regard and police siezed fake visas of South Africa and other countries, identity cards, and fake passport from their possession. (Nation) February 01, 1999.
February 2, 1999
Police and CIA raided different areas in Karachi and arrested 10 terrorists. 6 out of them belong to Muttahida. Police also recovered arms from their procession. According to the details CIA Malir arrested accused Fiaz Ahmed of Muttahida, who told the police during interrogation that he committed different crimes on the directives from Nine Zero.
He killed two people on the orders of unit Incharge Kalia and ****d 10 women. Brigade police arrested Ikram who was wanted in different cases and recovered a pistol from him. Nazimabad police recovered a pistol from Mohammad Anwar while Sharifabad police arrested Kamran and recovered a pistol from him.
Ibrahim police also arrested Fahim Waseem and Mohammad Akram who are involved in the cases of murder, kidnapping and attempt of murder. CIA police recovered pistol from Usman, Malir City Police recovered rifle from Ijaz Ahmed, CIA Malir recovered mouser from Fiaz Ahmed and recovered pistol from Kazim Qureshi who was arrested from Liaqatabad. (Nawa-e-Waqt). February 3, 1999.
February 3, 1999
32 accused including two terrorists of MQM were rounded up as police and Rangers continued their campaign against terrorists and criminals.
Anti-Terrorists Wing (ATW) of Karachi Police had cordoned off Jamshed Quarter No. 2 near Bijli Ground in search of some wanted terrorists when they were fired upon by somebody. After a brief encounter, ATW team arrested one Salim alias Ghanoo and seized a Kalashinkov from his possession.
Chief of ATW team Raja Umer Khitab said Salim was wanted in 35 cases. Rangers and police raided the house of Shami Dacoit in Hasrat Mohani Colony of Pak Colony, District West. Zahid alias Kalia was also held. (Nation). February 4, 1999.
February 8, 1999
Ranger's spokesman said that the 51 Wing of Bhittai Rangers apprehended
two terrorists of MQM identified as Imran alias Super and Salimuddin alias Gullo.
They were held from Korangi No. 4. They were involved in various cases of murder including killing of a student Humayoon and "Ajji" of rival Haqiqi faction of MQM in Sector F.SDM of the area was also present during the raid.(Nation). February 9, 1999.
February 10, 1999
Pakistan Rangers have arrested an alleged hardened killer, Atiq alias Atoo, who is also nominated in the Hakim Said murder case.
According to a press release of Rangers, the accused is allegedly involved in over two dozen cases of murder, including killing of two Pakistan Air Force personnel, two police constables, one Qoumi Razadar and a woman.(News/APP). February 11, 1999.
February 11, 1999
Shakil Ahmed Kanpoori, member MQM organising Committee arrested by CIA Karachi Inspector, Javed Anjum, on January 12 from Islamabad, Shakil Ahmed is involved in over 60 crimes of a heinous nature Another 12 arrested terrorists were also present at this occasion.
They were: Arif Ahmed, Mohsin Shah, Kalim alias Jugno, Shahzad alias Ludan, Aurengzeb, Khalid Mehmood, Akhlaq alias Khalo, Salim Siddiquee, Shanawaz, Muhammad Ayub, Aziz-ur-Rehman and Sajjad.
Two klashnikovs, 10 pistols, a revolver, a stolen car and two motorcycles were recovered from these accused have confessed to murder more than 60 persons collecting Rs. 2 million through extortion, attacking mobiles of police and Rangers, setting on fire a passenger train in Orangi Town, torturing 50 persons to death at a Nazim Abad torture cell and getting released 25 terrorists through forged documents.
In his confessional statement, Shakil said Altaf Hussain wanted division of Pakistan into nine regions including a state for Mohajirs comprising Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas. He said initially the proposed state was named as Jinnahpur but when the intelligence agencies came to know about it, the proposed state was then renamed as Mohajiristan. He said Altaf Hussain would head that state.
He said everything had been chalked out on papers with regard to that proposed independent state. Anis Advocate Anis Ahmed Qaimkhani, Naseem Jalil, Aftab Sheikh Liaquat Ali, Dr Farooq Sittar, Zulfiqar Haider and Wasay Jalil were involved in that planning, Shakil said these people believed that their plan would be executed in the year 2000. Nation
Paramilitary forces conducted an operation in Darra Adamkhel in a hunt for the MQM terrorists. Eight locals suspected to have assisted Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement in gun running and violence in the Pakistan's port city and about 15 workers from the factories manufacturing guns were apprehended.
Intelligence agencies had credible tips about the presence of terrorists in the area. Four vehicles, lifted or snatched from Karachi were recovered during the operation. Those arrested include Haji Fazal and Haji Khan Mohammad Din, who have been providing arms and ammunitions to Altaf Hussain'. Authorities had information about the presence of six MQM men with Haji Fazal while some hand grenades were recovered from Mohammad Din's place. Two vehicles were recovered from Haji Fazal's place.(Nation).
According to WWI, CIA Jamshed quarters arrested MQM's terrorists Mohammad Shakeel alias "chikna" who had opened fire on Columbian Experts, arms were also recovered from him.(Nawa-e-Waqt). February 12, 1999.
February 14, 1999
An alleged MQM terrorist was arrested by the personnel of an intelligence agency in D.I Khan, police said. Maqsood, the alleged MQM terrorist was picked up from a city locality.
He was working as a labourer here for long time but was wanted by Karachi police in several
cases of heinous crimes. (News). February 15, 1999.
February 15, 1999
Police arrested nine Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) activists allegedly involved in murder and other criminal activities and recovered arms and ammunition from them. The New Karachi Police during patrolling intercepted an MQM activist Asif with a stolen car and TT pistol. During a search, the police recovered a card of Muslim Students Federation and Shabab Milli from his possession.
He was wanted in a number of criminal cases. The Soldier Bazar police arrested Mohammad Zaman and Mohammad Yousaf for their involvement in murder and arson cases. The Model Colony Police arrested Shahid alias Natha and Arshad Ali from Mehran depot and also recovered two TT pistols from their possession. The Mominabad police arrested Waseem alias Langara with a pistol. He was involved in murder and dacoity cases.
In New Karachi, police arrested Amir and Asif Kala driving a Car # Q-2386 and recovered 2 TT pistols from them. According to police both of them are Muttihadas workers and involved in terrorist activities.(Nawa-e-Waqt). February 16, 1999.
February 16, 1999
Three wanted activists of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were reportedly apprehended by the Anti-terrorists wing personnel on their arrival in Karachi from Colombo by a PIA flight. They were identified as Mohammed Anwar, Abdul Rasheed and Izharul Hasan.
They were nabbed because of information received by ATW about their return to Karachi. They had fled to Colombo after governor's rule was imposed in Sindh.(APP/News). February 17, 1999.
February 17, 1999
Lahore Cantt circle police arrested an MQM terrorist Abdul involved in murder of 12 persons and other terrorist activities. Abdul Rauf alias Rufa alias Ali alias Shah, was arrested along with his sister-in-law Shaheen Kausar alias Shaheena alias Naz. Police after wards arrested their two allies Ameer Afsar and Fiazi Zaidi from Karachi on the information provided by them.
Police also recovered illegal arms from Ameer Afsar and Fiazi Zaidi. ASP Cantt Qazi Jamshad disclosed these details on 17 February in Lahore. He said that accused at interrogation centre North Nazimabad killed 9 persons including a rebelled MQM Sector Incharge on Independence Day in 1998.
ASP further told that the accused also killed K.M.C's engineer Shaan Zaidi and killed two persons in Imambargah Khar with firing. Accused killed Mohammad Khan and Ishmael Khan opponent of a drug baron in Quetta and took Rs 4 lakhs from the baron for the killings.
Accused is also involved in 8 bank dacoities and more than dozen other crimes. The sister-in-law of Rauf, Shaheen Kausar is also involved in various crimes. (Nawa-e-Waqt) February 18, 1999.
February 21, 1999
Jamal Sultan, Incharge, Society Sector of MQM was arrested from his house in Block II, PECHS in a raid conducted by CIA Central. One Kalashinkov and two Pajero jeeps were recovered from his house.
Azizabad police in several raids arrested the owners of some travel agencies on being pointed out by three MQM men who were arrested on February 20, 1999. (Nation).
Three alleged terrorists of MQM arrested by Anti-Dacoit and Robbery Cell (ADRC) in a raid in Muslimabad of Malir CityDSP of ADRC told in a briefing.Akbar Ali alias Babar Kashi, Nadeem alias Sri Devi and Mehmood Ahmed were arrested from behind the petrol pump in a raid and one carbine, two revolvers, 16 rounds were seized from their possession.They were named in seven cases registered by Saudabad police and Alfalah police. They are allegedly involved in burning ofbuses firing on police and transport (Nation) February 22, 1999.
February 22, 1999
CIA Malir arrested unit incharge of MQM Orangi Town, Shamim Pervaiz and his accomplice Naushad Alam. Two AK-47assault rifles were also recovered from them.
They were allegedly wanted in a number of cases, including seven murders, CIA East arrested Mohammad Nazir and Alamwith two Ttpistolsfrom Korangi area for involvement in murder and arson cases. (The News/NNI).February 23, 1999.
February 25, 1999
Liaquatabad police and FIA in a joint raid at Jinnah Terminal, arrested a Sector Incharge of MQM trying to flee to Male in Air Lanka flight at 3 am on February 25, 1999 while a Unit Incharge of MQM (H) and seven other MQM activists were also held and four suspects were taken into custody as police claimed to have arrested 55 accused.
Six pistols, two revolvers, one repeater and a dagger was also seized from their possession. Iftekhar Ahmed Khan, a Sector Incharge of Sharifabad was arrested while trying to flee to Male as he was to board the flight UL-184 of Air Lanka. His name was place on Exit Control List as he was named in killings and murder attempts. From his possession, a Press card was also seized. (Nation) February 26, 1999
February 26, 1999
Karachi police arrested four persons included Muttahida workers in raids in different areas of Karachi. Arms were also recovered from them. According the detail, Manghoo Peer Police arrested Kamran Billa an ally of Farooq Dada, a dangerous terrorist who was killed in police encounter and recovered a stengun from him. Accused Kamran is involved in the killings of several government officials and different incidents of firing and murder. (N.Waqt).
Rangers arrested one dangerous terrorist of Muttahida Qaumi Movement who was involved in killing of several persons including a police constable (Nation) February 27, 1999
February 27, 1999
The Karachi police arrested a notorious terrorist Syed Fida Hussain Shah, at Regal Chowk Saddar.
The accused was wanted by Baldia police in different cases of terrorist activities and arms smuggling. According to CIA, the accused was being interrogated at South CIA Center.(Nation/PPI).
An alleged terrorist of MQM Shakeel Shah was arrested by Havelian Police after prolonged exchange of fire. Shakeel Shah was wanted by Sindh Police in numerous heinous criminal acts. During the Police operation, Mian Raza, DSP Havelian, was also injured. Sindh Police had provided a list of terrorists to Hazara Police. On a tip off received by the Police, under the supervision of DSP Mian Raza, a Police party besieged the house of one Mustafa Shah, paternal uncle of Shakeel, and ordered the accused to come out.
In reply, the accused started firing on the Police which was responded by the Police personnel. Finally, the police arrested Shakeel. Police recovered one pistol, one repeater 12-bore, a Kalashinkov, three magazines and numerous cartridges from the accused. During the initial investigations, the terrorists confessed his involvement in several criminal cases. (Nation). February 28, 1999
