Muhajir Urdu: Encyclopedia II - Muhajir Urdu - Discrimination

Muhajir Urdu - Discrimination

Most Muhajirs who originally immigrated to Pakistan are relatively more educated and skilled than most of their Pakistani counterparts. Despite having better academic qualification and professional skills Muhajirs have been discriminated in public services and the armed forces since Ayub Khan martial law. Introduction of quota is one of the such example. That later led to friction in 1980s and ethnic strife in 90s with the Punjabis who enjoy lion's share, not only in arms services but also in all key governmental posts and bureaucracy.

Now, many sections think that the open discrimination against Muhajirs has been considerablly reduced. This was helped by the fact that some of top Pakistani figures are (and were) of muhajir descent which include people of proforming arts and sports. It is also believed that discrimination against muhajirs have reduced or even vanished, as current President of Pakistan and de-factor ruler, Pervez Musharraf and Governor of Sindh are muhajir while MQM running city district governement of Karachi and an ally of federal and provincial government.

Muhajir Urdu - Massacre of Alighar

On December 14, 1986, a group of planted armed Afghanis, seized the Alighar, Orangi and Qasba colonies and adjacent areas of Karachi and killed innocents Muhajirs, bunrt shops and houses, and raped women. Goverment failed to take action on time.

Muhajir Urdu - 1992 military operation in Karachi

June 19, 1992, an army operation was launched by Pakistan Army to crush the armed gangs, most of them were linked with MQM. Many MQM workers were killed in operation.

In November 1994, the army was withdrawn from law enforcement duties in Sindh, but the paramilitary Rangers were reinforced and specially trained police inducted. It is claimed that between 1995 and 1996, many dozens of people were killed by Rangers and police, including members of the MQM.

Muhajir Urdu - Muhajirs and the rise of MQM

The MQM party was formed by Altaf Hussain in 1985 which seeked to bring political representation to the muhajir community. The party currently holds a very strong footing in Karachi and urban Sindh (Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas & Nawabshah). Now MQM is gaining ground in Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir. It is also active abroad , most notably in the UK , US and Canada where there are significant diaspoara's of Pakistani mohajirs.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Discrimination", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki