Altaf Hussain’s Illness Triggers Waves of Speculation in Pakistani Politics
Altaf Hussain, the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was recently admitted to a hospital in London after becoming unwell. This marks his second hospitalization in a month.
In a recent post on the party’s social media account, they shared that “The well-being of MQM’s founder and leader, Altaf Hussain, has declined once more, leading to his transfer to a local hospital.” The update from the MQM Central Information Department specified that on Friday, Hussain’s health took a turn for the worse.
An ambulance was immediately dispatched, and a medical emergency team was sent to his residence. After an initial examination at his home, he was moved to a nearby hospital for a more thorough evaluation and care.
The MQM Coordination Committee has requested that all party members and the general public offer prayers for his swift recovery.
Just last month, Hussain was also hospitalized in London due to a “serious condition” where he underwent various medical tests.
Hussain started his political journey by founding the Mohajir Qaumi Movement in 1984. This party was created to represent the Urdu-speaking community, many of whom had moved to Pakistan following the Partition.
Under his leadership, the MQM saw huge success in Sindh’s urban areas during the 1988 elections, becoming the country’s third-largest political force. The party was often criticized for using forceful methods to gain and hold political power. However, Hussain has always maintained that the government and other political parties have unfairly targeted the MQM and its supporters from the very beginning.
Since 1992, Hussain has lived in London in self-imposed exile, where he was eventually granted British citizenship. From there, he continued to be an influential figure in Pakistani politics, frequently broadcasting speeches to his followers in Karachi. In February 2021, he was in the intensive care unit of a UK hospital after reportedly getting Covid-19.
Born in Karachi on September 17, 1953, Hussain grew up in the middle-class neighborhood of Azizabad. He earned a Pharmacy degree from the University of Karachi in 1979. His political career began during his time at the university when he and Azeem Ahmed Tariq co-founded the All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO) in 1978. The group quickly gained a significant following.
In the early 1990s, the MQM leader left Pakistan as the government initiated an operation in Karachi.
While known for his long-distance control of Karachi, Hussain came under scrutiny in May 2013 for a speech broadcast in Pakistan. He was accused of calling for Karachi to become separate from the rest of the country if his party’s public support was not accepted by the “establishment.” The party later explained that his comments were taken out of context.
The major turning point for the MQM came after an intense speech he gave in August 2016, where he not only shouted anti-Pakistan slogans but also called the country “a global cancer.” Following this speech, MQM workers attacked the ARY News office in Karachi.
The government responded with a crackdown, sealing the MQM’s headquarters and Hussain’s residence in Azizabad. Subsequently, his own party leaders in Pakistan distanced themselves from him and removed his name from the party’s constitution.
In October 2019, British police charged Hussain with “encouraging terrorism” because of his speech. He had been arrested earlier that year on the same charges but was out on bail. After a three-day deliberation, a jury cleared him of two counts of “encouraging terrorism” in February 2022, finding him not guilty under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2006.
