When exactly did MQM or Khi-tes killed Punjabis?

system · June 14, 2005, 10:46pm

Re: When exactly did MQM or Khi-tes killed Punjabis?

Zakk:

ghulail: the short answer to your request for a lone one is that I’d be tiring myself out

Ok here goes in brief: In the late 70’s and early 80’s there was a massive influx of migrants from North Pakistan (Punjab and NWFP) into Karachi. Karachi between 1948-1984 was essentially a “Mohajir” city (prior to that it was a Sindhi/Baloch city). The local urdu speaking migrants had began to feel deprived of power and control over their own city. The reasons :

till 1984 the Pakistani civil service was overwhelmingly Mohajir-urdu speakers (because they were the literate class ) after Pakistans independance by the 70’s and 80..that generation was retiring and being replaced by Punjabis and Pashtuns.

Democractic elections reduced their power even further as Mohajir-Urdu speakers were not a major ethnic group (unlike Punjabis who were numerically dominant)

Provincially the Mohajirs-Urdu speakers faced an additional discrimination from resurgent Sindhi Nationalism under the PPP. Sindis who felt that the Urdu Speakers-Mohajirs “stole” Karachi from them and treated them badly.

Lastly the other source of Mohajir-Urdu Speakers power was in the business community, this power was broken by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto when he nationalised industry and was further damaged by Zia ul Haq who denationalised certain industries but did not compensate those Mohajir-Urdu speakers who did not support his policies (he also gave out loans to politicians to start businesses which tipped the playing field against many Mohajir-Urdu speakers)

Mohajir-Urdu speakers felt they were discriminated against in Pakistan as Karachi contributed the bulk of revene to the nation but received the least..Mohajirs-Urdu speakers also felt discrimianted against in the Army and police whichw as dominated by Punjabis and Pashtuns..

Now that the background has been explained, here goes the events of the 80’s, the MQM was formed around the early 80’s, it was intensely ethnic and xenophobic ..and it’s first clashes were with the Pashtun community ..this triggered tit for tat retaliation. Initially the Sindhi anti PPP nationalists supported the MQM..that soon changed when clashes erupted between Sindhis and the MQM. While all these events were ongoing there was a build up of anger towards Punjabis because the police and Army when they intervened whenever violence broke out were perceived to support Punjabis. At the same time the Army and Pakistans powers that be ..perceived the MQM as an increasingly violent insurection challenging the writ of the state. This lead to a show down..when the Army during Nawaz Sharifs time (and according to Nawaz Sharif against his wishes) kicked off Operation Clean Up. There was a massive crackdown on the MQM and many indiscriminate arrests of innocent people as well.. and as all members of the MQM at the time …all arrests and cases of abuse were committed on Mohajirs-urdu speakers by a mostly Punjabi Pashtun Army.

Again tit for tat killings..this time between Mohajirs and Punjabis started..when the Army pulled out they were replaced by the Rangers and other paramilitary forces ..and the PPP was in power again..the PPP having it’s own axe to grind and not willing to allow the MQM to dominate or create anymore instability..let the police and paramilitary unlimited powers to do what they wished to restore peace to karachi..by 1996 the worst of the violence has passed..and the MQM staged a come back by coming into power again with the help of Nawaz Sharif..

Phew thats it..I apologise for any errors in what I’ve written I probably have missed some facts..anyway that was the short version..feel free to ask any questions..I’ve skipped loads of bits to make it “flow” lol…

Wow, thatbnks for the insight Zak.. Much appreciated!