MQM

MQM, short for Muttahida Qaumi Movement, is a Pakistani political party originally formed in 1978 as the Muhajir Qaumi Movement by Altaf Hussain in Karachi. The organization emerged to represent Muhajirs, Muslim immigrants who settled in Pakistan after the 1947 partition, and it developed a broad urban-based platform over time. In 1997 the party adopted the name Muttahida Qaumi Movement to reflect a broader coalition of urban communities beyond the Muhajir constituency.

Historically, MQM established itself as a major political force in Karachi and parts of Sindh, leveraging organizational discipline, street-level outreach, and influence in local governance and civil society networks. It has been a significant player in provincial and national elections, sometimes aligning with other major parties such as the Pakistan Peoples Party, while at other times contesting aggressively for control of urban constituencies. The party also built parallel wings for students, workers, and professionals to sustain its political apparatus.

During the 2010s MQM faced increasing internal divisions and external pressure. A series of security operations in Karachi and national-level controversies tested the party’s cohesion. In 2016–2017 a split occurred, culminating in the emergence of factions commonly referred to as MQM-Pakistan (MQM-P), which operates within Pakistan, and MQM-London, associated with the party’s longtime leadership based in exile. The split challenged the party’s leadership structure and its influence in urban Sindh.

Today MQM-P remains active in Karachi and urban Sindh, continuing to advocate for urban development and the rights of its traditional support base, while its organizational influence has been moderated by internal divisions and changing political dynamics in Pakistan.