Altaf Hussain (Urdu: الطاف حسین) (born 17 September 1953, Karachi-Pakistan) is the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement and is currently on the run and hiding in London-England. It is claimed that he has been given sanctuary by MI6.
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Early Life
Altaf Hussain was born on September 17, 1953 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. His father, Nazeer Hussain (d. 1967) and mother Khurshed Begum (d. 1985) both belonged to Agra, India. His whole family migrated from India to Pakistan after the creation of Pakistan on August 14 1947, and settled in the neighborhood of "Ibn-e-sena line" in Karachi. Altaf Hussain came from a family of four sisters and seven brothers. Nasir Hussain his elder brother was a government employee and was allotted a small quarter on Jahangir Road and his whole family was moved from "Ibn-e-sena lines". Later in early 1970's Altaf Hussain and his family shifted to a small house of 120 sq yards (1,080 sq.ft.) in Azizabad, Karachi. This small house is known as "nine-zero" and its is the party headquarter of MQM.
In the seventies he went to USA and illegally drove a taxi there, until he was caught and returned back to Pakistan.
Political Career
Altaf Hussain "bhai" started his political career when he was a student in University of Karachi, where he founded All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) in June 11, 1978. APMSO started gaining support of Urdu speaking students Muhajirs and were able to win 92 seats in college elections in 1980. However, APMSO faced a strong opposition from Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, main opponent and student wing of Jamaat-i-Islami. Their main opposition to APMSO was due to its incitement of racial tensions - something which was a first for the area.
Support by Military
A few months after the failure of the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) in Mar 1984, MQM was formed. At that time by some chance, Altaf Hussain was “very close to the deputy martial law administrator of Sindh”.1
Soon after the formation of MQM, the Sindh chief minister, Ghous Ali Shah, was accused of giving Rs. 30 million to Altaf Hussain, to which the chief minister is reported to have replied that “I helped it (MQM) to cut Jamaat Islami to size”23
Transformation into a Cult Figure
Altaf Hussain was transformed into a cult figure. Initially he was called Altaf Bhai, but was soon elevated to the status of pir being called Pir Sahib. Altaf Hussain was so much attached to these titles that young mohajirs were shot dead just for failing to call their leader Altaf "Bhai".4 One of such incidents were witnessed by Khalid Mumtaz who was Karachi lawyer, and an MQM supporter in its early days.
1991
Altaf Hussain started taking over the Karachi underworld. During the same time many Urdu speaking (Muhajir) families started accusing Altaf Hussain for raping their family members. One of the most famous cases was the rape of Nazia Hassan. Some of the families openly avowed to kill him. On December 21, 1991 Altaf was attacked but he escaped injuries. It is suspected that this incident was either related to one of the rapes or the underworld. But it shook Altaf's confidence.
1992
On January 1, 1992, faced with criminal charges, imprisonment and death threats from other gangs/criminals of Karachi underworld Altaf Hussain fled the country on the pretext for kidney treatment and never returned. He landed at Saudi Arabia and after one month moved to London - being promised a safe-heaven there.
1993
Altaf Hussain did nothing for the safety of his relatives, leaving them behind helpless and the enemies he had created took revenge upon them. His brother and nephew were killed in cold blood. After the Police operation in 1992 in Karachi, when many of Altaf Bhai's followers (ABSCONDERS) had been treated with justice (killed) as they were wanted as seriel targeted killers of innocent citizens.
Altaf Hussain was given assylum by the UK Government.
2000-2008
Birth of Daughter
The Birth of Daughter of Altaf , Afza Altaf take place on 5th Mar 2002 in London.
Pervez Musharraf Government
Altaf nominated Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan landed in Islamabad after a long period of exile life in London. He came back on flight No PK 786 on 22nd Dec 2002 and takes the oath of Governor Sindh on 27th Dec 2002 in Karachi. Under Altaf's instructions Mustafa Kamal's name is put forward as mayor of Karachi who later won the elections.
Creation of Pakistan Greatest Blunder
2008-2010
Change in Stance against PPP
| Views on Benazir under Musharraf Regime | Views on Benazir under PPP Government |
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| Please don't compare me to her [Benazir Bhutto]. She is a feudal lady. Her politics is to gain power, power, power. She raised the Taleban. And lives only for power.5 |
Joining PPP Government
Altaf Hussain despite his fierce oppostion to PPP in the past two decades joined Asif Ali Zardari's Government. Asif Ali Zardari visited Nine Zero to talk to MQM leadership after which they agreed to join the government. Also PML-N raised no objections to the PPP move for cooperation with the MQM.
Even before Zardari's move, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar had said that his party was ready to join the coalition government, even though they hadn't received any formal offer from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Assets and Wealth
It is calculated that Altaf Hussain has amassed to the tune of 1 billion dollars in the last twenty years by racketing, kidnapping, robbery and protection money.
Properties in UK
Under the watchful eyes of British Intelligence and police Altaf Hussain has bought number of properties in posh London areas.
He lives in a small mansion in Mill Hill area which is worth a couple of million pounds. The house is under 24-hour electronic surveillance and local police also keeps the property under tight watch. Along with his now divorced wife, Faiza Altaf, he is the joint of another close by property in neighbouring Edgware suburb.
The estimated cost of the property half a million pounds. This property sits in between two freehold houses that belong to Altaf Hussen's brother, Iqbal Hussain. Altaf Hussan also owns his party's International Secretariat in Edgware area.
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| Altaf's Mill Hill Mansion | Altaf and Iqbal's Edgware Suburb Houses | Altaf and Iqbal's Edgware Suburb Houses |
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Also See
- Afaq Ahmad: Leader of MQM Haqiqi
- Saleem Shahzad
- Fraudia List
- List of Pakistani Billionaires
