Azeem Ahmed Tariq

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Azeem Ahmed Tariq was the Chairman of MQM (Muhajir Qaumi Movement, now called Muthedha Quami Movement). The party was formed to fight for the rights of the Mohajir people in Sindh, who were immigrants from India during the Indo-Pakistan split.

Tariq was known as an honest politician. He was admired for his strategic and peaceful approach to problem-solving, and his loathing for violence. Regarded as an icon of peace, honesty, and kindness in Pakistani politics, he was also well known for his soft-spoken tone and striking personality. He was a key member of MQM and also known as the brain of MQM.

Murder of Azeem Ahmed Tariq He is alleged to have been killed by the orders of MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, who is in self-exile in London since 1992. One of the gunmen later caught confessed blindfolded in front of Mr. Tariq's widowed wife that Altaf Hussain indeed was the one who ordered the killing.

In addition Mr. Tariq's family believe that Azeem Tariq confessed to his close family members that his death would be coming soon at by the hands of Altaf Hussain. Although he never spoke against Altaf Hussain in public, which was the core objective the Pakistani Army and the then Government was encouraging to do to oust Altaf Hussain out of power.

It is believed he did not speak against Altaf due to the fear of his life and his family's. Altaf loyalists claim that Government Agencies or Haqiqi group (a broke away faction of MQM)murdered him. The evidence for this claim seems rarely plausible mostly due to there can be no proper objective established to argue that Haqiqi or Government would gain anything by the death of Azeem Tariq. Furthermor Haqiqi repeatedly asked Azeem Tariq to lead their faction and become their chairman.

It is well known fact that towards the end of his years Mr. Tariq was trying to rejoin Haqiqi and Altaf's group. It was later revealed Mr. Tariq had met up secretly with Army Generals and other officials that showed recorded conversations between Altaf Hussain in London to his associates in Karachi. In one of the conversation Altaf Hussain had stated "Azeem Tariq wants to run the party without me? I will see how he will run the party without me".

Upon hearing the attitude of Altaf Hussain from the recorded conversations, he had withdrew involvement in MQM-Altaf. He stopped attending Nine Zero (MQM Headquarter) which destabilized the situation even more. The absence from Nine-Zero had put doubt in the public as the average MQM worker that the party was going to be split again, or that there was internal conflict. Although Mr. Tariq reportedly never had the intentions of creating a party of his own, that is believed to be the reason why Altaf Hussain was involved in his murder.

In addition Mr. Tariq was gaining much public support and popularity, a possible motive Altaf Hussain may not have wanted him as party Chairman. Mr. Tariq's supporters have long claimed that ever since his death he was not properly remembered by Altaf's group.

The Haqiqi headquarter (before it was demolished) there was a large portrait of Azeem Tariq hanging upon entering the building commemorating his life and struggle.