MQM reborn: Units become union committees, sectors become divisions

Party to go for internal structural changes, decides Rabita Committee


Our Correspondent January 16, 2016
PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: To get rid of the bad image associated with its units and sectors, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is changing its internal organisational structure and renaming various tiers.

According to a press release issued by the party on Friday, the Rabita Committee decided in a meeting to make basic changes in the party’s organisational structure.

The move comes following directives by law enforcement agencies, who had shared their concerns about the party’s units and sectors, which are accused of running teams of militants involved in corruption and criminal activities, explained a party official, who requested anonymity.

During the ongoing Rangers operation, a large number of men heading these units and sectors have been arrested on charges of target killing, ‘china-cutting’, extortion and arson, such as the Baldia factory fire that claimed 259 lives.

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A party official shared with The Express Tribune what changes are in the offing. Discussions are under way to change the name of units to a ‘union committee or council’ and to call the sectors ‘divisions or towns’ headed by a ‘district’.

This party structure is loosely based on the city’s local government system of union committees and union councils. However, the new party set-up will stay separate to the local government structure, the official explained, adding that the elected representatives of local government won’t have anything to do with the MQM organisational structure.

The MQM has more than 200 units and 26 sectors in the city. Every unit will be equal to a union committee or council, having the same boundaries.  Meanwhile, the sectors will report to districts.

The MQM’s organisational  system of unit and sectors, aimed at reaching people at the grass-roots level, goes back to the 1980s when it was formed as the Mohajir Qaumi Movement. These units and sectors reported to the Central Committee then, which was disbanded after the operation in the 1990s.

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The party leader said that they were still discussing these changes. He added that these changes were being brought because of the party’s success in the local government elections as workers expressed confidence in the candidates.

The final decisions are expected to be announced by MQM chief Altaf Hussain who will be addressing a general workers’ meeting today.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2016.

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