Altaf Hussain, the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, has long been a thorn in Pakistan’s side. The maverick political leader, who has been in exile in the UK since 1992, continues to draw huge crowds onto the streets in London and Karachi every time he speaks against Pakistan.
Speaking exclusively to THE WEEK from his base in Mill Hill in London, he said that resistance movements were gaining strength in Pakistan, and that the future of the Mohajirs and people living in Pakistan-administered Kashmir lies with India and not Pakistan. Excerpts from an interview:
Why have you taken asylum in London?
Nobody loves to live in exile. Pakistan’s security agencies have tried to take my life multiple times. On my return to Pakistan from London on December 21, 1991, agency-sponsored terrorists hurled grenades at me. This was the first suicide attack on any political leader in Pakistan.
It was on the advice of the central committee, office-bearers and workers of the MQM that I left the country on January 1, 1992.
Are you aware of jihadi sanctuaries in Pakistan?
As evident from the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the Pathankot airbase attack, which were planned and executed by terrorists in Pakistan, I can assert that the recent Pulwama attack could not have been carried out without the help of a foreign hand.
Is MQM banned in Pakistan?
Ironically, internationally designated terrorists move freely in Pakistan. Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar are provided every luxury at home, under arrest in safe-houses.
But MQM has been facing an unannounced ban by the military establishment. Hundreds of party offices across Sindh have been demolished illegally by paramilitary Rangers. An illegal and unconstitutional blanket ban on me and my party in the print and electronic media is in place since March 2015.
My residence has been sealed illegally since August 22, 2016, and all Mohajir-dominant cities in Pakistan are under siege. More than 25,000 Mohajirs have been killed extrajudicially, including my elder brother Nasir Hussain and nephew Arif. Hundreds have been forcefully ‘disappeared’, while thousands are languishing in jails and thousands were forced to flee the country. I am living in exile, but the MQM has secured landslide victories in past elections.
You have been with Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Your party plays a major role in Pakistan politics and you are accused of opportunism. Comments.
Both parties betrayed MQM despite a written accord. Both parties are feudal by nature. We had always been part of coalition governments and when written accords were not implemented, we left the coalition. As far as urban areas of Sindh are concerned, both parties follow the repressive agenda of the military establishment to crush the demands for equal and due rights of Mohajirs.
Have you written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking help?
I have written to [him] twice, but due to reasons unknown, he is yet to raise his voice against the atrocities on Mohajirs in Pakistan, despite the fact that Mohajirs originally migrated from India. But yes, the current Indian government does openly speak about groups that call for self-determination. I believe that if the people of Pakistan-administered Kashmir are allowed to have their say under the direct aegis of the UN, they would prefer to remain independent or at least accede to India, but shall never choose Pakistan.
