Altaf Hussain (Pakistani politician)
 |
Altaf Hussain الطاف حسین | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 September 1953 |
| Education | Bachelor of Pharmacy |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Political party | Muttahida Qaumi Movement |
| Spouse | Faiza Altaf (divorced) |
| Children | Afzaa Altaf |
| Parent(s) | Nazeer Hussain and Khursheed Begum[1] |
Altaf Hussain (Template:Lang-ur) (born 17 September 1953, Karachi) is a Pakistani politician, the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement. He lives in North London, United Kindom, after seeking political asylum in 1992.[2]
Politics
He started his political career when he was a student in University of Karachi, where he founded the All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) on 11 June 1978. APMSO started gaining the support of Urdu-speaking students and Muhajirs and were able to win 92 seats in college elections in 1980.[citation needed] However, APMSO faced strong opposition from Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, the student wing of Jamaat-i-Islami,[citation needed] and it was banned in 1981.[2] He founded the MQM in 1984 to represent Muhajirs,[3] Muslims who emigrated from India in 1947 following Partition, and later campaigned for an end to feudalism and rights for poorer Pakistanis.[4] It is now the third largest political party in Pakistan.[citation needed]
On 21 December 1991, Hussain was attacked but he escaped injury.[citation needed] A warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with a murder.[3] On 1 January 1992 he fled Pakistan for Saudi Arabia[citation needed] and after one month moved to London, United Kingdom. During 1992 to 1993 Altaf Hussain's brothers and nephews were killed.[citation needed] He sought political asylum in the United Kingdom, where he now lives in Mill Hill, North London as a UK citizen.[3][2] Imran Khan has accused Hussain of soliciting violence in Pakistan.[5][6] The British government has turned down extradition requests from Pakistan,[4] where more than 100 criminal charges were filed against him by Benazir Bhutto's government in the mid-90s.[2] He was acquitted in 1998 of the 1991 kidnap and torture of an army major.[7]
Hussain is a critic of "Talibanisation" in Karachi, which is popular with secular Pakistanis but is seen by Pashtun migrants as targetted at them.[8]
Deaths of relatives
On December 5, 1995, Hussain's brother and nephew, Nasir Hussain (age 66) and Arif Hussain (age 28), were abducted. On December 9, 1995, their mutilated bodies were found in Gaddap, Karachi.[citation needed]
Personal life
His father Nazeer Hussain (d. 1967) and mother Khurshed Begum (d. 1985) both came from Agra, India.[1][2] Hussain is from an educated middle class family. They lived in a small house in 'Federal B Area' of Karachi, which is now the Head Office of MQM and is called Nine Zero.[6]
Hussain graduated from Islamia Science College in Karachi.[citation needed] Later he studied at the University of Karachi in the Department of Pharmacy.
References
- ^ a b The Rediff Interview/MQM leader Altaf Hussein rediff.com
- ^ a b c d e Ford, Jonathan (13 July 1995). "Fighting Benazir by fax from Mill Hill". Independent. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ^ a b c "Mysterious world of a movement in exile". The Independent. 15 November 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ^ a b Whitaker, Raymond (2 February 1997). "Leader who addresses the faithful by phone". Independent. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ^ Sengupta, Kim (15 September 2007). "Imran Khan's message to UK: 'My life is in danger'". Independent. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Walsh, Declan (2 June 2007). "The Karachi ruling party 'run like the mafia' from an office block in London". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "MQM leader is acquitted in Pakistan". BBC World Service. BBC News. 6 February 1998. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- ^ Walsh, Declan (30 April 2009). "Spate of shootings kill 29 in Karachi". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- Lawson, Alastair (16 May 2007). "Running Pakistan's biggest city - from London". Retrieved 2009-06-23.
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