Bihari Qaumi Movement (BQM) – another split in MQM?

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was originally formed as Muhajir Qaumi Movement in early 1980s, claiming to protect the rights of Muhajirs, the immigrants who left their homes in India to come to Pakistan in and after 1947. These Muhajirs mainly belonged to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states of India. Arriving in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan at that time, the Muhajirs settled across the city forming communities and neighborhoods. One such settlement was Orangi Town which, though had a mix of ethnic groups, mainly consists of immigrants from Bihar, India (1947) and Bangladesh (1971).

Orangi Town has a population of approximately 2.5 million although government records insist that it has 700,000 inhabitants. Claimed to be the largest shanty town in the world, Orangi Town has surprisingly high literacy rate. In last 15 years Orangi Town’s demography has substantially changed as Pakhtun refugees fleeing from war in Afghanistan and Taliban conflict in northern Pakistan have settled in this town in large numbers. This has also ignited ongoing clashes between MQM and ANP for land occupation in Orangi Town and elsewhere in Karachi.

Orangi Town is considered as a strong hold of MQM and the Biharis die-hard loyalists of Altaf Hussain. Dr. Imran Farooq, the founder of MQM, was also a Bihari and this contributed a lot in influencing people from Bihar and Orangi Town to join MQM.

During the operation of 1990s, Orangi Town suffered a lot as Bihari youth were rounded up and encountered in huge numbers by law enforcement agencies. In recent years, Orangi Town remained in news due to frequent clashes between MQM and ANP due to which the residents were besieged in their homes for days at length. That, added with the incidents of extortion and street crime, multiplied the physical and financial suffering of the people of Orangi Town.

After recent wave of target killings, the administration banned motorcycle riding in Orangi Town, while pillion riding is already banned in Karachi. A day after the ban was imposed, residents of Orangi Town came out on the streets having a peaceful rally against this ban. However, they were fired upon and two men were killed. This made the administration reverse the decision of motorcycle riding in Orangi Town.

Soon after these incidents there were series of conventions in Orangi Town by a formerly unknown party called Bihari Qaumi Movement. Its leaders, apparently residents of Orangi Town, blamed stakeholders of current government for the situation.

Following video covers one such speech. Listen to the shouts of Jiye Bihari during the speech:

Apparently a member of Bihari Qaumi Movement (BQM) is participating as independent candidate in the by-election of PS-94, seat of Provincial Sindh Assembly vacant after the death of MPA Raza Haider. MQM leaders confirmed that Abdul Haq, one of the three independent candidates, was the former Orangi Town nazim belonging to the party’s Haq Parast Group. The by-election, scheduled for September 22, is postponed till October 17 as MQM has abolished political activities for 10 days to mourn the death of Dr. Imran Farooq.

Is the BQM represents a split in MQM? Will it be another offshoot like MQM Haqiqi? (now known as Muhajir Qaumi Movement and is further branched into Afaq and Aamir groups). Only time will tell. However, MQM has a history of dealing brutally with those that divert from the policies of its Quaid.


19 thoughts on “Bihari Qaumi Movement (BQM) – another split in MQM?”

  1. Biharis are shedding their blood since the independence, once in 1947 and then after 1970s, although its the agenda of MQM to bring back Stranded Pakistanis(Bihari Muslims) from Bangladesh but no appreciable work has done on it, neither do it cares off for the rights of Biharis.. Many MQM leaders who were Bihari origin were being killed by MQM.

    No movement came into being unless and until its individuals are treated well. When General Zia called we Biharis as “Bhekari” who came forward against him, no one we ourselves.

    I live within Mahajirs and I know Mahajirs (not all but few) look down upon Biharis, they thought of us being inferior, and this had developed a sense of hatred for me against them(not all mahajir but few). ALHAMDULILLAH we Biharis have a much higher literacy rate and we had sacrificed much more then other Urdu speakers and still sacrificing in Bangladesh for more than 40 years, no one can question off our patriotism.

    Once we were a ruling class in East Pakistan. We Biharis sacrificed our honour, property, wealth in the hands of Mughti Bhayani. Bihari women were brutally raped off by Mughti Bhayani. Razakar is a Bihari Militant organization who fought side by side with the Pakistan Army and not against the army likewise MQM workers.

    The world witnessed the most highly educated refugees were Biharis in 1970s.
    Tell me which nation still love its motherland by living more than 40 years , rotting in the miserable camps of Bangladesh, still holding the flag of Pakistan. No one but Bihari Muslims.

    ALHAMDULILLAH azzwajal I am a Medical student and love to be called as “Babuwa”.
    In the end I just want to say that I am not against every mahajir, but a few who feel Biharis being inferior and slang. Non Bihari Urdu Speakers are our Islamic brothers , we should love them all , respect them all.
    But we should know how to answer those who look down upon us. We have a separate Bihari identity and we must maintain it and in order to do that we must keep ourselves away from this devilish MQM.

    Reply

  2. Behari peoples are very brave for support of MQM but no any result from MQM no any issues about behari residency plz think about behari cnic if cnic issue solved so MQM voters qty hugest margin above PLZ PLZ think about it

    Reply
  4. Pingback: Police, MQM to jointly check street crime, PA told - Page 2

  6. MQM se hamen yeh shkayat he k har kam men behari badnam hote hem or atak unke masle hal nehi hote nazar arahe he kabi pathan marte hen to kabi sindhi marte hen or MQM Government men rehkar Behryoun ka sath nhi deti jbtk 30 ya 40 nehi marte to bat nehi banti or sab se bara masla yeh he k Inlogon ka CNIC card ka masla hal nehi hota sirf jhoti tasali de jati he kam kuch nehi hota men MQM se khush nehi hon unhon ne behari k ley kea kea MQM ko chahiy k CNIC ka masla hal kare to hazaron jan b qurban he Jey MQM JEY Behari

    Reply

  7. IT WAS GREAT MATTER OF SHOCK THAT AFTAB MALIK CHAIRPERSON OF BIHARI QAUMI MOVEMENT HAS BEEN KILLED TO DAY THE 26TH NOVEMBER 2010 BY A BULLET HIT AT DISCO MORE ORANGI WHEN AFTER JUMA PRAYER HE WAS AT PAN SHOP NEAR FOUJI HOTAL
    DECEASED PERSON WAS A VERY GENTLE AND NOBLE MAN VERY COOL AND HARMLESS TO ANEYONE.
    MAY ALLAH EXCUSE HIS ALL SIN IF ANEY AND OFFER HIM JUNNAT UL FIRDAUSH AMEEN
    M SHAMIM AHMED 26.11.2010

    Reply

  8. In many previous elections, MQM was winner of all elections especially last election. MQM took more than 79000 votes where as ANP took more than 900. No comparission. There wouldnt be any BQM or any other party in MQM, people of Karachi have checked MQM and support them. Its all propaganda, ANP should accept the reality.

    Reply

Leave a Reply