The rise and fall of MQM: Nukta’s Faisal Khan revisits key political shifts

In this compelling video, Nukta’s Faisal Khan unpacks a pivotal era in Pakistan's political history, spotlighting transformative events and societal shifts during the 1960s and 1970s that eventually led to the formation of the MQM.

The narrative begins with Ayub Khan's imposition of Martial Law, his controversial presidential race against Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, and the ripple effects of the ‘Muhajir-Pathan Riots’ in Karachi.

It goes on to explore Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's nationalization policies and the implementation of the quota system, examining their significant influence on Sindh's Urdu-speaking Muhajir community.

It further chronicles the surge of student activism in Karachi's universities and the sequence of events that ultimately led to Altaf Hussain’s exile to the United States in 1981.

Through the voices of key political figures like Afaq Ahmed, Mustafa Kamal, Syed Ameen-ul-Haq, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, and Dr. Saleem Haider, along with veteran journalists Mazhar Abbas, Mehmood Sham, and others, the video paints a vivid picture of the rise and fall of Altaf Hussain—the founder of a party that evolved from the Muhajir Qaumi Movement to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) London.

Watch the full video to learn more about this era of political turbulence and its lasting impact on Pakistan’s socio-political landscape.