Pakistan: Information on the participation of the Mohajir Quomi Movement in the government
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1990 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK3634 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Information on the participation of the Mohajir Quomi Movement in the government, 1 January 1990, PAK3634 , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab681c.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Mohajir Quomi Movement is a relatively new political force in Pakistan, beginning in 1986. According to an article in Asiaweek ("The Choice of the Nation", 16 December 1988, p. 24), the Mohajir Quomi Movement gained 13 seats in the federal elections held in 1988. The MQM supported Prime Minister Bhutto's bid for power at that time, however, in the motion of no-confidence held 1 November 1989, the MQM threatened to drop their support to Bhutto over the Bihari issue (refugees in Bangladesh awaiting repatriation to Pakistan - the MQM is supportive of their entry, the government of Pakistan has other concerns). An article in the Far Eastern Economic Review dated 16 November 1989 ("Politicians in Purdah", p. 38) asserts that the MQM has 14 seats in the National Assembly. This discrepancy (13 versus 14 seats) may be the result of one of the by-elections held during the last year. As mentioned in a previous response sent to you (# 3450), the MQM won 96 of the 204 seats in local government elections in January 1988. [ Ahmed Rashid, "Life Among the Ruins of a Karachi Slum", Far Eastern Economic Review, 14 April 1988, p. 49.] No information on the MQM representation at the provincial level is currently available to the IRBDC.
