Pakistan: The Mohajir Quomi Movement (MQM) in Pakistan
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1989 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK0959 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: The Mohajir Quomi Movement (MQM) in Pakistan, 1 May 1989, PAK0959, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac7f50.html [accessed 4 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 (MQM), also known as the Mohajir Quomi Mahz, was founded in 1986 [ The Europa Year Book, (London: Europa Publications Inc., 1988) p. 2048.] and represents the interests of "Muslims who migrated from India when the Subcontinent was divided." [ McDonald, H., "Benazir's Big Moment," Far Eastern Economic Review, [Hongkong] 1 December 1988, p. 11.] One of the tenants of the MQM is to promote that Muhajir be designated as the fifth official nationality in Pakistan. [Europa Year Book 1988, p. 2084.] The Mohajir have been involved in a series of ethnic clashes in 1986 and 1987. [ Degenhardt, H., Revolutionary and Dissident Movements An International Guide, (Essex: Longman Press, 1988), p.265. and Keesing's Record of World Events, Vol. XXXIII March 1987 No. 3, (Essex: Longman Press, 1987), p.34995.] The 1989 U.S.Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in 1988, reports the death of one senior MQM official in 1988 and as many as 200 other deaths relating to violence between the MQM and ethnic Sindhis. The MQM did well in the November 1989 elections in Pakistan winning 13 seats in the parliament and have joined forces with Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to form the government. ["Benazirs Big Moment", Far Eastern Economic Review, p. 12.]
No exact number of Shiites in the MQM was available. The Europa Year Book 1988 states that about 10% of the Muslims in Pakistan are Shi'a. [ Europa Year Book, p. 2085.]
No information was available to the IRBDC Ottawa on the protection of Muhajir or MQM by the government. An article in the Far Eastern Economic Review states allegation by the MQM that the police had stood aside when armed assaults were perpetrated against the Muhajir. [ Mc Donald, H., "A new ethnic force flexes its muscles," Far Eastern Economic Review, [Hongkong], 1 December 1988, p. 14.]
