About Mr. Altaf Hussain Founder & Leader Of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM)
Mr
Altaf Hussain is a globally renowned politician. He is the undisputed founder
of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) which is a political party in Pakistan.
He
is an academician, a tribune, a philosopher, a philanthropist, a politician,
creator of Mohajir identity, and Father of Mohajir nation.
His
political and philanthropic network is widespread across the world. The MQM
derives its inspiration from its founder Mr Altaf Hussain's unshaken ideology
which can be understood by outstanding principles and beliefs which he has been
advocating for throughout his political and philanthropic initiatives started
in his life as a student of Pharmacy at the University of Karachi. His entire
ideology can be summarised as below;
1.
Mohajir Empowerment:
One
of the central aspects of Mr Altaf Hussain's ideology is the empowerment of the
Mohajir nation settled in Pakistan. The Urdu-speaking Mohajirs migrated to
Pakistan during the partition of the subcontinent India in 1947. Mr Altaf
Hussain has consistently been highlighting the challenges ahead of the Mohajir
nation. For example, racial discrimination, political and social
marginalisation, and denial of equal opportunities.
Mr
Altaf Hussain has always aimed at the peaceful resolution of these draconian
discriminatory problems through dialogue.
He
wants political, social, and economic empowerment of the Mohajir nation.
2.
Secularism and Pluralism:
Mr
Altaf Hussain is the only and strongest voice in Pakistan for a stable and
economically prosperous Pakistan under the canvass of peace and tranquillity
which can only be attained through secularism and the pluralism.
He
believes in a society where individuals are free to practice their religion and
where people from diverse ethnic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds can coexist
peacefully. Mr Altaf Hussain's sole emphasis is on the importance of
inclusivity and equal rights for all citizens, regardless of their cast, creed
or colour.
3.
Respect to the Democratic Norms and Values:
Mr
Altaf Hussain believes in democracy and has untiringly been struggling for and
strictly adhering to the spirit, norms and values of democracy.
Mr
Altaf Hussain is well-known for his open critique and he has always been a
vocalist against the authoritarian, military coup de'etat, political
engineering, usurpation of the resources of smaller provinces and placement of
democratic institutions under military directives.
Mr
Altaf Hussain's ideology emphasises the importance of a democratic government,
supremacy of the constitution and laws of the land, respect of the human
rights, and the freedom of expression.
4.
Social Welfare and Economic Development:
Mr
Altaf Hussain's ideology places significant emphasis on social welfare and
economic development. He has called for policies to address poverty,
unemployment, and social inequalities. Mr Altaf Hussain advocates for a sharp
high increase of investment in education and healthcare sectors and
infrastructure to uplift marginalised communities in Pakistan so that the
well-being of the people should be ensured and maintained.
5.
Strong Local Government System:
Mr
Altaf Hussain wants decentralisation of power and has always called for
devolution of powers to the grass root levels.
He
believes that the devolution of powers to the grass root levels and to the
elected local body representatives will be the only guarantee for effective
governance at the grassroots level.
This
approach aims at improving the governance, promote accountability, and ensure
efficient service delivery to the people.
It
is pertinent to mention that Mr Altaf Hussain's ideology has evolved over the period
of time. Despite sheer opposition from feudal dynasties in power, this ideology
has gained momentum.
Mr
Altaf Hussain had prior to the formation of the MQM, formed his charity network
because he wanted to manifest his ideology of service to humanity in letter and
spirit.
Books Written :
My Life Journey
Three Pronged Strategy of Establishment
Realisum and Practicalisum
Philosophy of Love
Altaf Hussain's Lectures
Pakistan ke Azadi Kay Pachas Baras Kia Khoya Kia Paya
(Fifty years of Pakistan's independence, what has been lost and what has been found?)
Founder of the Muttahida Quami Movement – MQM -, Mr Altaf Hussain has a very diversified personality. He founded the MQM which had very quickly emerged as Pakistan’s second largest political movement of province Sindh and third largest Political party in Pakistan. Though he was forced to live in exile in the United Kingdom, he continued to reign over the MQM. During his 40 years of struggle for rights of the oppressed Mohajirs and other smaller nations and ethnic groups and communities he firmly continued to manifest his caliber as Reformer, Ideologue, Researcher, Passionate Liberal and Progressive, challenger of the military rule in Pakistan. He studied Pharmacy at University of Karachi and earned a bachelor degree. He is a well-established Historian especially in Pakistani and Indian sub-continent sphere. He introduced a new way of thinking which he termed as Realism and Practicalism.
Besides his hectic schedule as founder and leader, he manages to deliver lectures on politics and history of Pakistan and Indian sub-continent.
He prior to setting up his biggest rights movement in history of the Indian sub-continent especially in Pakistan, he chose to serve the humanity first and hence he first set up a welfare organisation – Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation – KKF. He proved to be a real Philanthropist. Among his countless endeavors, his biggest role as mentor was that he created the identity of Mohajir – the people who joined/migrated to Pakistan as a result of their struggle for a new homeland.
He is perhaps the only leader on whom books have been written.
Altaf Hussain was born in Karachi on 17 September 1953. His parents were immigrants from India. His father, Nazir Hussain, was a Station Master in Indian Railways who, after migrating to Karachi, worked as an office worker at a local mill. Altaf Husaain's grandfather, the Late Mohammad Mufti Ramazan, was Grand Mufti of the town of Agra in UP, India, and his maternal grandfather. Haji Hafiz Raheem Buxsh was a reputed religious scholar in India.
Altaf Hussain completed his Bachelor of Science from Islamia Science College (Karachi) in 1974, and Bachelor of Pharmacy in 1979 from the University of Karachi. He completed two semesters as a student of M- Pharm but couldn’t complete his Master degree because he had to leave University as he was attacked many times by the members of thunder squad of Islami Jamiat Talba and his life was threatened.
He began his career as a trainee at Karachi’s Seventh Day Adventist Hospital. He also worked for a multi-national pharmaceutical companies.
Between 1970 and 1971, Altaf Hussain joined the National Service Cadet Scheme. Soon afterwards, he was recruited in the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army.
Mr Altaf Hussain has been politically active from a very young age. While attending the University of Karachi, he served as a General Secretary and, later, as President of the National Students’ Action Committee.
He founded All-Pakistan Mohajir Students' Organization (APMSO) on 11 June 1978. The APMSO was formed as an activist group campaigning for the rights of Mohajir students at the University of Karachi. Later, in 1984, It gave birth to the Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM).
On 19 June 1992, the Pakistan Government launched the first army operation against the MQM. A month before the operation, because of an attack on his life on 21 December 1991, Mr Altar Hussain shifted to London where he sought political asylum which was granted to him by the British Government. While in exile, he transformed the Mohajir Quami Movement to Muttahida Quami Movement in 1997 in order to provide a nationwide platform to the oppressed of the country.
Despite his self-exile, Mr Altaf Hussain holds considerable political influence and power within Pakistan.
Besides his hectic schedule as founder and leader, he manages to deliver lectures on politics and history of Pakistan and Indian sub-continent.
He prior to setting up his biggest rights movement in history of the Indian sub-continent especially in Pakistan, he chose to serve the humanity first and hence he first set up a welfare organisation – Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation – KKF. He proved to be a real Philanthropist. Among his countless endeavors, his biggest role as mentor was that he created the identity of Mohajir – the people who joined/migrated to Pakistan as a result of their struggle for a new homeland.
He is perhaps the only leader on whom books have been written.
Altaf Hussain was born in Karachi on 17 September 1953. His parents were immigrants from India. His father, Nazir Hussain, was a Station Master in Indian Railways who, after migrating to Karachi, worked as an office worker at a local mill. Altaf Husaain's grandfather, the Late Mohammad Mufti Ramazan, was Grand Mufti of the town of Agra in UP, India, and his maternal grandfather. Haji Hafiz Raheem Buxsh was a reputed religious scholar in India.
Altaf Hussain completed his Bachelor of Science from Islamia Science College (Karachi) in 1974, and Bachelor of Pharmacy in 1979 from the University of Karachi. He completed two semesters as a student of M- Pharm but couldn’t complete his Master degree because he had to leave University as he was attacked many times by the members of thunder squad of Islami Jamiat Talba and his life was threatened.
He began his career as a trainee at Karachi’s Seventh Day Adventist Hospital. He also worked for a multi-national pharmaceutical companies.
Between 1970 and 1971, Altaf Hussain joined the National Service Cadet Scheme. Soon afterwards, he was recruited in the Baloch Regiment of the Pakistan Army.
Mr Altaf Hussain has been politically active from a very young age. While attending the University of Karachi, he served as a General Secretary and, later, as President of the National Students’ Action Committee.
He founded All-Pakistan Mohajir Students' Organization (APMSO) on 11 June 1978. The APMSO was formed as an activist group campaigning for the rights of Mohajir students at the University of Karachi. Later, in 1984, It gave birth to the Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM).
On 19 June 1992, the Pakistan Government launched the first army operation against the MQM. A month before the operation, because of an attack on his life on 21 December 1991, Mr Altar Hussain shifted to London where he sought political asylum which was granted to him by the British Government. While in exile, he transformed the Mohajir Quami Movement to Muttahida Quami Movement in 1997 in order to provide a nationwide platform to the oppressed of the country.
Despite his self-exile, Mr Altaf Hussain holds considerable political influence and power within Pakistan.