The Political and Ethnic Division of Sindh

 The Political and Ethnic Division of Sindh.

The Political and Ethnic Division of Sindh.

(Continuation from the previous part)

On December 22, 1988, a 59-point agreement was reached between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), raising significant hopes since both parties were representative of Sindh. This agreement was particularly crucial as it came only a few months after the deadly violence in Hyderabad and Karachi.

This accord had the potential to change Sindh’s political landscape. While skepticism was inevitable, especially in such a volatile environment, this was still a major step toward political stability in the province. However, what happened next was a classic example of political maneuvering. The core purpose of this series is to highlight how democratic movements were crushed, ethnic and sectarian divisions were created, and later, non-party-based politics were introduced to eliminate ideological movements. And then, when both major representative parties, despite all conflicts, decided to unite, a new game was played. Here are the details.

The Karachi Agreement had barely dried when the establishment launched its most trusted project, the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), and moved a no-confidence motion against Benazir Bhutto. Allegedly, the Presidency, led by Ghulam Ishaq Khan, along with Army Chief General Aslam Beg, played a decisive role in this attempt to topple her government.

A Secret Agreement Between Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain

For the no-confidence motion to succeed, MQM’s support was crucial. Thus, a secret meeting was held at a house in Clifton, Karachi, where Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain reached an agreement, which was later exposed. This was perhaps one of MQM’s biggest political mistakes, leading to the loss of PPP’s and Benazir Bhutto’s trust. Consequently, the 1992 and 1995 operations devastated MQM. The real beneficiaries of this political maneuvering were Nawaz Sharif, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, and General Aslam Beg, whose power struggle nullified the Karachi Agreement, once again dragging Sindh into ethnic politics.

The Karachi Agreement aimed at bringing both urban and rural Sindh closer. The preamble of the accord clearly stated:

"Pakistan's future lies in forming a representative government that bridges the gap between rural and urban Sindh, and this alliance will reunite them."

However, when the no-confidence motion was moved against Benazir Bhutto in 1989, MQM, despite being a coalition partner, voted against her. On October 18, 1989, MQM officially announced its alliance with IJI. The situation worsened for MQM when the no-confidence motion failed, but they were promised that Benazir’s government would soon be dismissed—a promise that was fulfilled when, on August 4, 1990, Ghulam Ishaq Khan removed Benazir Bhutto from the Prime Minister's office under Article 58(2)(b).

Political Chaos and the Changing Dynamics

The Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) in 1982 had a profound political impact on Sindh. However, surprisingly, while it faced opposition from Jiay Sindh in rural Sindh, urban Sindh also showed limited support. Benazir Bhutto’s return in 1986, her compromised government in 1988, and her ouster in 1990 further pushed the country into a political crisis.

During this period, MQM had transitioned from Mohajir Qaumi Movement to Muttahida Qaumi Movement, allegedly on the advice of the establishment. However, MQM’s "honeymoon period" with the establishment was short-lived. Despite its electoral success in 1990, and a strong share in the government, Altaf Hussain struggled to maintain his power and influence.

General Asif Nawaz and the Shift in Strategy

With the retirement of General Aslam Beg, General Asif Nawaz took over as Army Chief. He was known for his strict approach. In a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he presented a report highlighting the rise in:

• Kidnappings for ransom by dacoits in rural Sindh
• Extortion in urban areas (with MQM’s alleged involvement)

This posed a serious threat to both PPP and MQM. However, by this time, PPP and MQM had become rivals. The Karachi University incident, where three members of PPP’s student wing (PSF) were allegedly killed by APMSO activists, further escalated tensions.

At this point, General Asif Nawaz, then Karachi’s Corps Commander, recommended deploying Rangers under Article 147 of the Constitution, a presence that continues today. Under their watch, both student organizations engaged in kidnappings, leading to a hostage exchange, as mentioned in Brigadier Sault Raza’s book.

The Split Within MQM

In 1991, Altaf Hussain suffered a major setback when two of his closest allies, Afaq Ahmed and Aamir Khan, split from MQM. In response, MQM dissolved its entire organizational structure, suspending all sector and unit in-charges.

If we analyze this timeline in the context of the PPP-MQM Agreement, it becomes clear that certain forces never wanted this alliance to succeed. The establishment successfully broke MQM’s ties with both Jiay Sindh and PPP, ensuring that rural and urban Sindh remained divided.

The 1992 Operation and Its Consequences

In May 1992, the government approved an operation against dacoits in Sindh. A crucial meeting in Karachi was attended by:

• Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
• MQM Chairman Azeem Ahmed Tariq
• MQM Secretary-General Dr. Imran Farooq

However, just months before this operation, on the advice of Chief Minister Jam Sadiq Ali, Altaf Hussain left for London (December 1991 or January 1992).

MQM initially supported the operation, likely under the impression that PPP leaders would be targeted. However, on May 28, 1992, an unexpected event changed everything.

A Pakistani Army Major, Arshad, killed nine individuals, labeling them terrorists and Indian agents. The government, including the Army Chief, President, and Prime Minister, praised the operation, and even conducted an official visit to the site.

However, a few days later, investigative reports in The News and Sindhi newspaper Kawish exposed that the killed individuals were innocent villagers. This led to an internal military investigation, proving the reports correct. General Asif Nawaz took strict action, ordering a court-martial for Major Arshad, who was later sentenced to death.