The MQM's Transformation from an Ethnic to A

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The MQM's Transformation from an Ethnic to A From Mohallah to Mainstream: The MQM’s Transformation from an Ethnic to a Catch-All Party By Noman Baig B.A., University of Central Oklahoma, 2005 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS In the Department of Political Science Noman Baig, 2008 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Dr. Radhika Desai, Professor, Department of Political Science Supervisor Dr. Feng Xu, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science Departmental Member Dr. Guoguang Wu, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science Departmental Member Dr. Gregory Blue, Associate Professor, Department of History External Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee: Dr. Radhika Desai, Professor, Department of Political Science Supervisor Dr. Feng Xu, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science Departmental Member Dr. Guoguang Wu, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science Departmental Member Dr. Gregory Blue, Associate Professor, Department of History External Member This thesis asks how the Mohajir Quami Mahaz (MQM), transformed itself from an ethnic to a catch-all party. Existing literature heavily emphasizes the MQM’s militancy, while this thesis explores the journey of the party, formed in 1984 to represent Urdu-speakers in Pakistan, through each phase of its development down to its transformation into the Muttahida Qaumi Mahaz (United National Movement) in 1997. The MQM’s process of transformation can be explained theoretically through Kirchheimer’s catch-all party theory. My findings note a shift from an ethno-militant agenda of Mohajir interests to one stressing the need for “national unity” and modernization. It is argued that the party shifted from making choices based on ideology to a strategy-based politics. The MQM, therefore, sought voters outside its traditional constituent base in an effort to gain national appeal. As an urban-based middle-class party, it provides an ideal example of how a party adopts to a changing social environment fractured by military administration, modernity, and political Islam. Therefore, this thesis is the story of the MQM’s journey from mohallah to mainstream. iv Table of Contents Supervisory Committee .................................................................................................. ii Abstract......................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ...........................................................................................................iv List of Tables .................................................................................................................vi List of Abbreviations.....................................................................................................vii Heads of State and Government................................................................................... viii Glossary .........................................................................................................................ix Chronology of the MQM .................................................................................................x Preface and Acknowledgements .................................................................................. xiii Dedication..................................................................................................................xxiv Epigraph......................................................................................................................xxv INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................1 Thesis Question and Hypothesis...........................................................................5 Synopsis ..............................................................................................................5 Definition of Mohajir ...........................................................................................6 Literature Review ................................................................................................8 Critique of Previous Explanations of the MQM’s Change ..................................13 Rationale and Significance of the Study.............................................................15 Methodology......................................................................................................16 CHAPTER ONE ...........................................................................................................19 Evolution of Political Parties in Pakistan .......................................................................19 CHAPTER TWO...........................................................................................................42 Theorizing the MQM’s Change .....................................................................................42 Defining “Party” ................................................................................................43 Conceptualizing the Development of Parties ......................................................45 The Catch-All Theory ........................................................................................48 Growth of Political Parties in Pakistan ...............................................................55 Factors Contributing to the MQM’s Transformation...........................................58 CHAPTER THREE.......................................................................................................65 Urdu Speakers’ Dominance and Decline........................................................................65 Arrival and Settlement of Migrants ....................................................................66 v Urdu Speakers’ Dominance in Pakistan’s Early Years, 1947-58.........................69 Urdu Speakers’ Supremacy Declines..................................................................75 Ayub Khan’s Reforms, 1958-1969.....................................................................76 Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s Reforms, 1970-1977.........................................................78 Zia ul-Haq Bolsters Punjabi Hegemony, 1977-1988...........................................81 Urbanization and Underdevelopment .................................................................83 Underdevelopment.............................................................................................86 CHAPTER FOUR .........................................................................................................89 Emergence of Agitational Mohajir Politics and the MQM..............................................89 The MQM’s Rise to Popularity and Power.........................................................95 Assertion of the ‘Mohajir’ Identity.....................................................................97 Organizational Structure of the MQM ..............................................................101 Mode of Operation...........................................................................................102 Politics of Alliance Making..............................................................................106 Political Islam Challenges the MQM................................................................121 CHAPTER FIVE.........................................................................................................126 The MQM’s Transformation........................................................................................126 Changing the Party Name ................................................................................127 Changing the Party Structure............................................................................129 Manufacturing a Soft Image for the Party.........................................................132 Altaf Hussain Broadens His Vision ..................................................................133 Ideology versus Strategy: From Protest to Acquiescence..................................136 CHAPTER SIX ...........................................................................................................151 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................151 Appendices..................................................................................................................154 Bibliography................................................................................................................156 vi List of Tables Table 1. Political Parties’ Electoral Position in Sindh National Assembly Elections.........2 Table 2. Comparison of MQM's Goals and Objectives in Pre- and Post-1997 Periods......3 Table 3. Party Electoral Positions in the 1970 National Assembly Elections ..................34 Table 4. Settlement Location of 1947 Migrants to Pakistan According to Their Zone of Origin in Indiaa ......................................................................................................67 Table 5. Ethnic Representation in Federal Bureaucracy, 1973-86...................................82 Table 6. Intercensal Increase in Karachi’s Population Size (1951-1981) ........................85 Table 7. Statistics from Karachi Riots............................................................................94
Recommended publications
  • Authoritarianism and Political Party Reforms in Pakistan
    AUTHORITARIANISM AND POLITICAL PARTY REFORM IN PAKISTAN Asia Report N°102 – 28 September 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 II. PARTIES BEFORE MUSHARRAF............................................................................. 2 A. AFTER INDEPENDENCE..........................................................................................................2 B. THE FIRST MILITARY GOVERNMENT.....................................................................................3 C. CIVILIAN RULE AND MILITARY INTERVENTION.....................................................................4 D. DISTORTED DEMOCRACY......................................................................................................5 III. POLITICAL PARTIES UNDER MUSHARRAF ...................................................... 6 A. CIVILIAN ALLIES...................................................................................................................6 B. MANIPULATING SEATS..........................................................................................................7 C. SETTING THE STAGE .............................................................................................................8 IV. A PARTY OVERVIEW ............................................................................................... 11 A. THE MAINSTREAM:.............................................................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • REFORM OR REPRESSION? Post-Coup Abuses in Pakistan
    October 2000 Vol. 12, No. 6 (C) REFORM OR REPRESSION? Post-Coup Abuses in Pakistan I. SUMMARY............................................................................................................................................................2 II. RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................................................................................3 To the Government of Pakistan..............................................................................................................................3 To the International Community ............................................................................................................................5 III. BACKGROUND..................................................................................................................................................5 Musharraf‘s Stated Objectives ...............................................................................................................................6 IV. CONSOLIDATION OF MILITARY RULE .......................................................................................................8 Curbs on Judicial Independence.............................................................................................................................8 The Army‘s Role in Governance..........................................................................................................................10 Denial of Freedoms of Assembly and Association ..............................................................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • Pakistan Was Suspended by President General Musharaff in March Last Year Leading to a Worldwide Uproar Against This Act
    A Coup against Judicial Independence . Special issue of the CJEI Report (February, 2008) ustice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the twentieth Chief Justice of Pakistan was suspended by President General Musharaff in March last year leading to a worldwide uproar against this act. However, by a landmark order J handed down by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Chaudhry was reinstated. We at the CJEI were delighted and hoped that this would put an end to the ugly confrontation between the judiciary and the executive. However our happiness was short lived. On November 3, 2007, President General Musharaff suspended the constitution and declared a state of emergency. Soon the Pakistan army entered the Supreme Court premises removing Justice Chaudhry and other judges. The Constitution was also suspended and was replaced with a “Provisional Constitutional Order” enabling the Executive to sack Chief Justice Chaudhry, and other judges who refused to swear allegiance to this extra­constitutional order. Ever since then, the judiciary in Pakistan has been plunged into turmoil and Justice Chaudhry along with dozens of other Justices has been held incommunicado in their homes. Any onslaught on judicial independence is a matter of grave concern to all more so to the legal and judicial fraternity in countries that are wedded to the rule of law. In the absence of an independent judiciary, human rights and constitutional guarantees become meaningless; the situation capable of jeopardising even the long term developmental goals of a country. As observed by Viscount Bryce, “If the lamp of justice goes out in darkness, how great is the darkness.” This is really true of Pakistan which is presently going through testing times.
    [Show full text]
  • Fezana Agm 2013 Report
    FEZANA 26th AGM REPORT BOOK INDEX 26th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AGENDA MINUTES OF 25th AGM HELD IN NEW YORK (AUGUST 2012) FINANCIAL REPORTS Minutes of conference call to discuss Financial Statements ‐‐ April 6, 2013 Treasurer's Comments Snapshot Summary FEZANA Financial Statements ‐ 2012 EXECUTIVE REPORTS REPORT BY PRESIDENT REPORT BY VICE‐PRESIDENT REPORT BY SECRETARY COMMITTEE REPORTS Academic Scholarship Committee Education, Scholarship and Conference Committee Excellence in Sports Scholarship FEZANA Information Research System (FIRES) Funds and Finance Committee Interfaith Activities Committee Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship Publications ‐ Information Receiving and Dissemination Committee Publications: FEZANA Journal Publications: Accounts for Legacy; Connections; Flyers 2013 Public Relations Committee Research and Preservation Committee Small Groups Committee Unity and Welfare Committee Zoroastrian Sports Committee (ZSC) Zoroastrian Youth of North America (ZYNA) Zoroastrian Youth Without Borders (ZYWB) Z‐TEM (Zarathushti Treasures for Exhibits and Museums) OTHER REPORTS Demographics Infrastructure Development in North America Return to Roots Strategic Plan ‐ Second 10 Year Plan 2011‐2021 Zoroastrians Stepping Forward (ZSF) Welfare Activities with WZO Trust, 2012 FEZANA 26TH AGM REPORT BOOK PAGE 1 FEZANA 26TH AGM REPORT BOOK PAGE 2 FEDERATION OF ZOROASTRIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA http://www.fezana.org Representing 26 Zoroastrian Associations and 12 Small Groups in the USA and Canada TWENTY SIXTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF FEZANA MAY 3RD TO 5TH, 2013 Host: Zoroastrian Association of Northern Texas Location: Hyatt Place Dallas/Grapevine 2220 Grapevine Mills Circle Grapevine, TX 76051 (972) 691-1199 Notes: 1. Member Association and Associate Member (Small Group) Presidents and/or their Reps to participate in the deliberations. Observers can comment and/or make suggestions when acknowledged by the Chair.
    [Show full text]
  • Opposition Alliances in Egypt and Pakistan
    ABSTRACT Title of Document: DIVIDED WE STAND, BUT UNITEDWE OPPOSE? OPPOSITION ALLIANCES IN EGYPT AND PAKISTAN Neha Sahgal, Doctor of Philosophy, 2008 Directed By: Dr. Mark Lichbach, Professor and Chair, Department of Government and Politics Why are opposition groups able to form alliances in their activism against the regime in some cases but not in others? Specifically, why did opposition groups in Pakistan engage in high levels of alliance building, regardless of ideological and other divides, while similar alliance patterns did not emerge in Egypt? I explain alliances among various opposition groups in Egypt and Pakistan as a result of two factors – the nature of group constituencies and the nature of the alliance. I argue that constituencies can be characterized as two kinds: Divided and Fluid . Under divided constituencies, different opposition groups receive consistent support from specific sections of the population. Under fluid constituencies, opposition groups have no consistent basis for support. Alliances can be of two kinds, Mobilization or Elite . Mobilization alliances are formed among two or more groups to bring constituents together to engage in collective action, for example, protest, sit-in or civil disobedience. Elite alliances are formed among group leaders to express grievances and/ or find solutions to issues without engaging their constituents in street politics. Groups may work together on an issue-based or value-based concern. Issue- based concerns focus on a specific aspect of the grievance being raised. For example, a law that imposes censorship on the press. Value-based concerns have a broader focus, for example media freedom. Mobilization alliances emerge among political groups that have divided constituencies and are unlikely among political groups that have fluid constituencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Central-Karachi
    Central-Karachi 475 476 477 478 479 480 Travelling Stationary Inclass Co- Library Allowance (School Sub Total Furniture S.No District Teshil Union Council School ID School Name Level Gender Material and Curricular Sport Total Budget Laboratory (School Specific (80% Other) 20% supplies Activities Specific Budget) 1 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 1-Kalyana 408130186 GBELS - Elementary Elementary Boys 20,253 4,051 16,202 4,051 4,051 16,202 64,808 16,202 81,010 2 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 4-Ghodhra 408130163 GBLSS - 11-G NEW KARACHI Middle Boys 24,147 4,829 19,318 4,829 4,829 19,318 77,271 19,318 96,589 3 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 4-Ghodhra 408130167 GBLSS - MEHDI Middle Boys 11,758 2,352 9,406 2,352 2,352 9,406 37,625 9,406 47,031 4 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 4-Ghodhra 408130176 GBELS - MATHODIST Elementary Boys 20,492 4,098 12,295 8,197 4,098 16,394 65,576 16,394 81,970 5 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 6-Hakim Ahsan 408130205 GBELS - PIXY DALE 2 Registred as a Seconda Elementary Girls 61,338 12,268 49,070 12,268 12,268 49,070 196,281 49,070 245,351 6 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 9-Khameeso Goth 408130174 GBLSS - KHAMISO GOTH Middle Mixed 6,962 1,392 5,569 1,392 1,392 5,569 22,278 5,569 27,847 7 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 10-Mustafa Colony 408130160 GBLSS - FARZANA Middle Boys 11,678 2,336 9,342 2,336 2,336 9,342 37,369 9,342 46,711 8 Central Karachi New Karachi Town 10-Mustafa Colony 408130166 GBLSS - 5/J Middle Boys 28,064 5,613 16,838 11,226 5,613 22,451 89,804 22,451 112,256 9 Central Karachi New Karachi
    [Show full text]
  • 22 March 2004 ICG Asia Report N°77 Islamabad/Brussels
    DEVOLUTION IN PAKISTAN: REFORM OR REGRESSION? 22 March 2004 ICG Asia Report N°77 Islamabad/Brussels TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................... i I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 II. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................. 3 A. GENERAL AYUB KHAN'S BASIC DEMOCRACY.......................................................................3 B. GENERAL ZIA-UL-HAQ'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM ......................................................4 III. THE MUSHARRAF DEVOLUTION........................................................................... 5 A. DOMESTIC AND EXTERNAL IMPERATIVES .............................................................................5 B. THE BLUEPRINT ....................................................................................................................7 1. Administrative Decentralisation ................................................................................7 2. Fiscal Decentralisation...............................................................................................8 3. Law Enforcement.......................................................................................................8 C. MILITARY EXCEPTIONS.........................................................................................................8 D. DOMESTIC REACTION ...........................................................................................................9
    [Show full text]
  • 61 in This Book, the Author Has Given the Hfe Sketch of the Distinguish Personahties, Who Supported the Augarh Movement and Made
    61 In this book, the author has given the Hfe sketch of the distinguish personahties, who supported the AUgarh Movement and made efforts for the betterment of the MusHm Community. The author highlighting the importance of the Aligarh Muslim University said that "it is the most prestigious intellectual and cultural centre of Indian Muslims". He also explained in this book that Hindus easily adopted the western education. As for Hindus, the advent of the Britishers and their emergence as the rulers were just a matter of change from one master to another. For them, the Britishers and Muslims were both conquerors. But for the Muslims it was a matter of becoming ruled instead of the ruler. Naqvi, Noorul Hasan (2001) wrote a book in Urdu entitled "Mohammadan College Se Muslim University Tak (From Mohammadan College to Muslim University)".^^ In this book he wrote in brief about the life and works of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, He gave a brief description about the supporters of Sir Syed and Aligarh Movement such as Mohsin-ul-Mulk, Viqar-ul-Mulk, Altaf Husain Hali, Maulana Shibli Nomani, Moulvi Samiullah Khan, Jutice Mahmud, Raja Jai Kishan Das and Maulvi ZakauUah Khan, etc. The author also wrote about the Aligarh Movement, the Freedom Movement and the educational planning of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. A historical development of AMU has also been made. The author has also given in brief about the life of some of the important benefactors of the university such as His Highness Sir Agha Khan, Her Majestry Nawab Sultan Jahan Begum, His Holiness Maharaja Mohammad Ali Khan of .
    [Show full text]
  • CRSS Annual Security Report 2017
    CRSS Annual Security Report 2017 Author: Muhammad Nafees Editor: Zeeshan Salahuddin Table of Contents Table of Contents ___________________________________ 3 Acronyms __________________________________________ 4 Executive Summary __________________________________ 6 Fatalities from Violence in Pakistan _____________________ 8 Victims of Violence in Pakistan________________________ 16 Fatalities of Civilians ................................................................ 16 Fatalities of Security Officials .................................................. 24 Fatalities of Militants, Insurgents and Criminals .................. 26 Nature and Methods of Violence Used _________________ 29 Key militants, criminals, politicians, foreign agents, and others arrested in 2017 ___________________________ 32 Regional Breakdown ________________________________ 33 Balochistan ................................................................................ 33 Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) ......................... 38 Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) ....................................................... 42 Punjab ........................................................................................ 47 Sindh .......................................................................................... 52 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Islamabad, and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) ............................................................................ 59 Sectarian Violence .................................................................... 59 3 © Center
    [Show full text]
  • Makers-Of-Modern-Sindh-Feb-2020
    Sindh Madressah’s Roll of Honor MAKERS OF MODERN SINDH Lives of 25 Luminaries Sindh Madressah’s Roll of Honor MAKERS OF MODERN SINDH Lives of 25 Luminaries Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh SMIU Press Karachi Alma-Mater of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Karachi-74000 Pakistan. This book under title Sindh Madressah’s Roll of Honour MAKERS OF MODERN SINDH Lives of 25 Luminaries Written by Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh 1st Edition, Published under title Luminaries of the Land in November 1999 Present expanded edition, Published in March 2020 By Sindh Madressatul Islam University Price Rs. 1000/- SMIU Press Karachi Copyright with the author Published by SMIU Press, Karachi Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Karachi-74000, Pakistan All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any from or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passage in a review Dedicated to loving memory of my parents Preface ‘It is said that Sindh produces two things – men and sands – great men and sandy deserts.’ These words were voiced at the floor of the Bombay’s Legislative Council in March 1936 by Sir Rafiuddin Ahmed, while bidding farewell to his colleagues from Sindh, who had won autonomy for their province and were to go back there. The four names of great men from Sindh that he gave, included three former students of Sindh Madressah. Today, in 21st century, it gives pleasure that Sindh Madressah has kept alive that tradition of producing great men to serve the humanity.
    [Show full text]
  • In Quest of Jinnah
    Contents Acknowledgements xiii Preface xv SHARIF AL MUJAHID Introduction xvii LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT, SHARIF AL MUJAHID Publisher's Note xxi AMEENA SAIYID SECTION 1: ORIGINAL ESSAYS ON JINNAH 1 1. Mohammad Ali Jinnah: One of the Greatest Statesmen of the Twentieth Century 2 STANLEY WOLPERT 2. Partition and the Birth of Pakistan 4 JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH 3. World of His Fathers 7 FOUAD AJAMI 4. Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah 12 LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT 5. Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah: A Historian s Perspective 17 S.M. BURKE 6. Jinnah: A Portrait 19 SHARIF AL MUJAHID 7. Quaid-i-Azam's Personality and its Role and Relevance in the Achievement of Pakistan 32 SIKANDAR HAYAT 8. Mohammad Ali Jinnah 39 KULDIP NAYAR 9. M.A. Jinnah: The Official Biography 43 M.R. KAZIMI 10. The Official Biography: An Evaluation 49 SHARIF AL MUJAHID 11. Inheriting the Raj: Jinnah and the Governor-Generalship Issue 59 AYESHA JALAL 12. Constitutional Set-up of Pakistan as Visualised by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah 76 S. SHARIFUDDIN PIRZADA 13. Jinnah—Two Perspectives: Secular or Islamic and Protector General ot Minorities 84 LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT 14. Jinnah on Civil Liberties 92 A.G. NOORANl 15. Jinnah and Women s Emancipation 96 SHARIF AL MUJAHID 16. Jinnah s 'Gettysburg Address' 106 AKBAR S. AHMED 17. The Two Saviours: Ataturk and Jinnah 110 MUHAMMAD ALI SIDDIQUI 18. The Quaid and the Princely States of India 115 SHAHARYAR M. KHAN 19. Reminiscences 121 JAVID IQBAL 20. Jinnah as seen by Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah,Aga Khan III 127 LIAQUAT H.
    [Show full text]
  • PAKISTAN NEWS DIGEST a Selected Summary of News, Views and Trends from Pakistani Media
    October (16-31) 2016 PAKISTAN NEWS DIGEST A Selected Summary of News, Views and Trends from Pakistani Media Prepared by Dr Ashish Shukla & Nazir Ahmed (Research Assistants, Pakistan Project, IDSA) PAKISTAN NEWS DIGEST OCTOBER (16-31) 2016 A Select Summary of News, Views and Trends from the Pakistani Media Prepared by Dr Ashish Shukla & Nazir Ahmed (Pak-Digest, IDSA) INSTITUTE FOR DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSES 1-Development Enclave, Near USI Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi-110010 Pakistan News Digest, October (16-31) 2016 PAKISTAN NEWS DIGEST, October (16-31) 2016 CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 0 ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... 2 EDITOR’S NOTE ....................................................................................................... 3 POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS ............................................................................. 5 NATIONAL POLITICS ....................................................................................... 5 THE PANAMA PAPERS .................................................................................... 6 PROVINCIAL POLITICS .................................................................................... 8 EDITORIALS AND OPINION .......................................................................... 9 FOREIGN POLICY .............................................................................................
    [Show full text]