Altaf Hussain - الطاف حسین

On August 8, 1986 Altaf Hussain led first historical public convention at Nishtar Park in Karachi.

On 21 December 1991, Hussain was attacked but he escaped injury and after one month on January 1, 1992 he fled Pakistan for Saudi Arabia and after one month moved to London, United Kingdom. The operation clean up was launched on MQM.During 1992 to 1999 Altaf Hussain's 15,000 workers including his brothers and nephews were killed. He sought political asylum in the United Kingdom, where he now lives in Edgware, Middlesex.

He is the first in Pakistan who introduced a new trend in the political culture by giving a non-feudal based political philosophy and forming a political party, which is the commonly associated as a representative of uneducated minorities. The people of Pakistan are well aware of his political ideologies and statements. His reputation has been severely tarnished by statements from numerous former party members who have spoken out against Mr. Hussain and the methods he used before he was exiled. His use of employing terrorist tactics during the uprisings of the late 1980''s and the early 1990''s to gain political ground. He currently resides, in exile, in London. He often arranges public video conference speeches in Pakistan. Mr Hussain also sends out regular statements and makes his views heard on international TV interviews.

It asserts itself as a party dedicated to democracy and secularism. The party claims to be entirely non-violent and that its supreme leader, Altaf Hussain, who led it in a very centralized and personalized manner, has not been implicated in any terrorist attacks. It appears, however, that the MQM frequently resorts to street-gang methods, targeted killings, torture and terrorist attacks against its political opponents and the State agencies, and that it has been involved in many ethnic conflicts. Altaf Hussain’s responsibility for the party’s use of violence, nonetheless, remains unclear.

The MQM split into two factions, one which remained loyal to Hussain, MQM (Altaf) and the other, MQM (Haqiqi) led by Afaq Ahmad and Amir Khan, former commanders of the MQM’s militant wing, the Black Tigers. The clash between the two factions resulted in many dead in added fuel to the chaotic situation in Sindh.

However, ALTAF HUSSAIN clarified in an interview with Najam Sethi, Hussain said that during my address in the India, I said that creation of Pakistan was a mistake and that Pakistan is a reality and India is a reality and both the countries should accept each other with an open heart. Staging war and rift relations between militaries of the both countries is not in the favor of the citizens of the countries. The people of the both countries should be allowed to remain freely and there should be open trade to improve economic ties.

MQM emerged as the third largest political party in the national assembly of Pakistan during 1988 & 1990 elections, subsequently MQM retained its strong influence in southern urban Pakistan and now is steadily expanding its political influence all over Pakistan, MQM secured noteable representation in the parlimentary elections held in the norther areas of Pakistan comprising Kashmir & Gilgit-Baltistan.

Altaf Hussain divorced by Faiza and he is father of one daughter, Afzaa Altaf