Hammad Siddiqui
Hammad Siddiqui (Urdu: حماد صدیقی) is a Pakistani politician who served as the in-charge of Karachi Tanzeemi Committee (KTC) of Muttahida Qaumi Movement. The party, which is the main secular political party in Pakistan,[1] had its power centered in the largest city and ex-capital Karachi where it has won large number of national, provincial and local body seats.Siddiqui is accused of burning an entire factory with 250+ people inside the factory. Who is considered as the mastermind of this incident. It's said that Hammad Siddiqui and MQM Leader Saeed Bharam had ordered the arson attack in Tahir Plaza [1] .
Career[edit]
Siddiqui is a central leader of the party's student body All Pakistan Muttahidda Students Organization.[2] He became the head of the Karachi Tanzeemi Committee, a very important and influential body of MQM, in 2009, and kept the position for over four years. His role was said to be instrumental in expanding MQM's influence in Karachi.[3][4] According to Azfar-ul-Ashfaque of Dawn, as "the longest-serving head of the KTC", he "expanded the committee’s role from a mere post office to an all-powerful body that had a say even in the nomination of party candidates for election to the provincial and national assemblies".[2]
Siddiqui was sacked on May 21, 2013 when Altaf Hussain decided to dissolve KTC for violating party discipline.[5][6] He shortly left for Dubai and, according to media reports, his sudden departure made the airport agencies "panicking".[7][8] Political commentator Dr. Shahid Masood argues that Siddiqui's sacking "had sectarian touch to it".[9]
Baldia incident[edit]
On December 19, 2016 Rehman Bhola appeared before the anti-terrorism court. He confessed that Hammad Siddiqui allegedly sought extortion and shares in the Baldia Factory, and upon refusal, he decided to punish them. Bhola allegedly claimed that Siddiqui ordered him to set the factory on fire.[10] It was reported that the politician tried to extort Rs 200 million of bhatta or protection money.[11] After the hearing, the ATC also issued red warrants for Siddiqui. The authority is seeking Interpol to arrest Hammad Siddiqui and bring him in the country for further investigation. On October 27, 2017 it has been reported that he was arrested by Interpol in Dubai and Pakistani consulate in Dubai directed to make arrangement to shift him to Pakistan.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Walker, Marquita R. (2019). Protecting the Workforce: A Defense of Workers’ Rights in Global Supply Chains. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-4985-8616-0.
- ^ a b Spotlight on MQM 'Muscle body'. Dawn
- ^ A new MQM?. The Friday Times
- ^ Hammad Siddiqui shown the door. The News International
- ^ MQM terminates basic party membership of KTC in-charge. The Express Tribune
- ^ Coordination committee of MQM dissolved Archived 2015-04-19 at the Wayback Machine. Khaleej Times
- ^ Former MQM KTC In-charge Hammad Siddiqui off to Dubai. Geo TV
- ^ MQM ex office bearer Hammad Siddiqui off to Dubai. The News International
- ^ MQM will face more problems in future: Shahid Masood Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine. The News Tribe
- ^ Harriss-White, Barbara; Michelutti, Lucia (2019). The Wild East: Criminal Political Economies in South Asia. UCL Press. pp. 305. ISBN 978-1-78735-324-4.
- ^ "Hammad Siddiqui makes shocking revelations about Baldia incident". Daily Times. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2020-03-04.