MQM-Shia or Sunni

In Karachi and Hyderabad, since 1985, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-the political organization of the Urdu-speaking population of Urban Sind-has also been a major vehicle of Shiite political activism. The majority of the sector chiefs of the MQM in Karachi are Shiites. Several of the Pashtun-Muhajir riots in Karachi during the 1980s and 1990s were, in fact, proxy Shii a-Sunni riots. The coincidence of the rise of Muhajir ethnicity in Urban Sind, on the one hand, and of the upsurge of Shiite political activism and the consequent Shiia-Sunni violence, on the other, is indicative of the convergence of ethnicity and sectarianism within the MQM ranks. (Studies in Contemporary Islam 5 (2003),1-2:57-71,ShiI Political Activism in Pakistan, Mumtaz Ahmed)

MQM has over the years gradually evolved from a radical Muhajir ethnic outfit to that of the premier Shiite Terror hub - a platform where Shiites unite to wreak havoc on the Sunnis in Karachi. Be it target killing of Ulama, to the gunning down of Sunni activist cadres of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Jamaat-eIslami and now even Tehrik-Tahafuzz-e-Khatm-e-Nubuwwat, Shiites in MQM have done all that and more. That these elements have a strong backing from their sector chiefs and other power-brokers in the MQM organizing committee also known as Rabita Committee points to the rise and rise of Shiites in MQM. And unlike lay-critics who point this to this is what happens in a party based on non-Islamic ideals, I feel otherwise. I believe that it is the impotence of Muslims (read Sunnis) to act and fight for their faith, that has given advantage-home to Shiites in not just MQM but other mainstream political parties, the armed forces and the bureaucracy. It is pertinent that I quote the late Maulana Ehsan Ellahi Zaheer We have developed a freeze-dried attitude towards Islam and our vacuum-packed personalities and compromise-compressed stances have made moral crowds of us all. We are impervious to all violations of the Islamic spirit and all sacrilege of its basic tenets as long as we are safe, our children are safe and our brothers, families and relatives are safe. We indulge in a nave optimism of the simpleton who believes that God is in Heaven and all is right with the world. Right now Islam may be in peril, and the Muslims may be in the midst of a storm-the storm of atheism, of apostasy, of misguidance, of heterodoxy-but we are not bothered by it as long as it does not take the tops off our houses. We have personalized everything and we have also lost the impersonal and principled love of Islam. (Qadiyaniat:
An Analytical Survey pg 20-21, Ehsan Ellahi Zaheer)

The Maulanas words are as true today as they were some 35 years ago when the book was first published. Of-course taken into context Maulana was talking about how pseudo-Islamic sects such as Qadiyanis and Bahaiis found leverage enough amongst Muslims to infiltrate their heretic ideas and wreak havoc on Muslim independence movements by colluding with their British Masters, never theless the words are strong and time-less unfortunately for Muslims.

Coming back to the MQM - Shiite elements collude with the under-ground Shiite Militias Sipah-eMuhammad, Khomeini Force, Lashkar-e-Mehdi and others. This is what the newspapers have to say whenever a high-profile Alim or cadre of mainstream religious parties is gunned down in Karachi. I believe MQM is in fact a breeding ground for Shiites with sectarian ambitions. As MQM is not a proscribed outfit, members of Banned Shiite Militias have found their way into the open embrace of their Shiite co-religionists in MQM. A steady supply of arms and ammunition aside, the protection given by police makes such elements within MQM above the law. MQMs Shia Wing Recent evidence pointing to such developments within MQM came to surface when Nadeem Hussain Zaidi, treasurer Korangi Sector was caught red-handed killing Maulana Ameen of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan in Feb 2013. Following the arrest, Zaidi revealed the presence of an underground Shiite network within MQM operating from South Africa. According to details, some two years back prominent MQM activist Qamar Teddy aka Waseem Bhai (who is currently in South Africa) ordered Dr. Ali Raza to prepare lists of all Shiites working in MQMs Karachi Chapter. Dr. Ali Raza in compliance with his coreligionist Qamar took into confidence a Shiite member of the Karachi Tanzeemi Committee (KTC)-KTC is a committee overseeing day to day affairs of the various Sectors of MQM in Karachi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar sectors Dr.Zaidi and Qasba Ali Garhs Raza Mota. Together they prepared lists of all Shiites and started arranging meetings with them in GulBahar sector. Dr. Ali Raza worked Shiite emotions to a pitch where they were willing to do as he says. From intelligence reports it has been verified that Shiite wings were operational in 11 sectors of the MQM in Karachi (There are a total of 26 sectors operating in Karachi) New Karachi Nazimabad and Gulbahar Lines Area Society Orangi Town Surjani Town Korangi Landhi P.I.B.

Names of prominent Tablighi Jamaat activists and Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistans cadres in particular were charted in these 11 operational sectors, and given to Qamar Teddy in South Africa. MQMs London office where MQM Chief Altaf Hussain is stationed was aware of all these developments, and only with his tacit consent was the go-ahead given to complete the process. The next step was the target-killing of these activists which included Ulama and lay religious activists at that time. All this was happening in front of Sunni eyes-MQMs cadres count to 80% Sunnis while at-least 20% are Shiites.

Hammad Siddiqui head of the KTC tried his best to calm Sunnis down, but to no avail. At present MQM remains fairly divided, and voices of dis-content over its Pro-Shia leanings have not made things easier. Sunnis at present remain divided not because they cant see the writings on the wall but because of our freeze-dried attitude towards Islam as Maulana Ehsan Ellahi put it.

Meeting at Markaz Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan is the only organization in and across Pakistan which is anti-Shia to the core - it declares Shiites to be the foremost and biggest obstacle in the road towards imposition of Shariah in not just Pakistan but across the Muslim world. This world view adheres and rightly so with the words of the 12th century Jurist Imam Ibn Taymiyya When-ever Jews would form a state in the Middle-East, you would see these rawafidh as their biggest supporters It therefore comes as no surprise that MQMs Shiite hooligans target and gun down Sipahs activists and cadres. With a never ending body count on the Sipah side, and the protests from Sunni quarters in MQM over this trend emanating from the Shiite elements in MQM, it was only a matter of time that MQM had to settle its Sunnis down. On 2nd March 2013, members of the MQM Rabita committee (This committee overseas all activities of MQM in not just Karachi but elsewhere as well) visited Maulana Aurangzeb Faruqi, Head of Sipahs Karachi Chapter at Sipahs Headquarters. Maulana Aurangzeb Faruqi strongly condemned the presence and harboring of Shiite terrorists in MQM who were directly involved in the killing of scores of its cadres. MQM did not deny the allegation but rather insisted that all such Shiite cadres involved in target killings of Ulama and activists have been discharged and thrown out of party ranks. At this Maulana Faruqi presented a list of 30 Shiite Target Killers who are at present holding party positions within the 11 sectors where under-ground Shia wings are operating in parallel. MQM vowed to take possible action and to satisfy Maulanas and his organizations concerns. This development in itself is a major breakthrough on not just part of the Sunnis in MQM but it marks the rise of Sipah as a mainstream politico-religious organization. Where as previously, mainstream parties such as Pakistan Peoples Party (the ruling party from 2008-2013)used to visit the MQMs Head Quarters Nine-Zero whenever things would come at a head start between the two. Such visits saw the then Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani flying from Islamabad and arriving in Karachi to woo the MQM back into the ruling coalition. This is the first time, where MQM has had to go and solve another partys concerns. What Next? The road doesnt end here - MQMs Sunnis have to realize sooner or later what its Leadership is covertly doing. MQM chief Altaf Hussain has been implicated in scores of murders in Karachi, and for the last 1516 years residing in United Kingdom. He runs a mafia from a sofa in Britain to wreak havoc on the

citizens of Karachi, Pakistan says former UK Member of parliament and politician George Galloway. I believe the one step forward, and one which would help save MQM from oblivion is where Muslim blood-letting should stop. Sunnis should come forward and help put an end to this Shiite domination of MQM where Shiites get to kill and maim Ulama and all those Muslims who want an Islamic Government in Pakistan. MQM should severely clamp down on all its Shiite elements who have links with Shiite Organizations be it Imamia Students Organization Islami Tehreek Pakistan Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafria Sipah-e-Muhammad Lashkar-e-Mehdi Khomeini Force

It is difficult to prevent Shiites from associating with their organizations- all of the above harbor militant and hegemonic designs to convert Pakistan into a Shiite State overnight. What MQM can do is stem the rise of Shiites in leadership position in the party ranks. For this Sunni cadres must absorb the reality at hand and rise.