Politics of Karachi
Encyclopedia
The politics of Karachi takes place at the municipal, provincial and federal levels of the government. Karachi
is a multiethnic, multilingual, multicultural and multireligious metropolitan city. The demographics of Karachi
are important as most politics in Karachi is driven by ethnic politics. Lala Fazal-ur-Rehman
is the current administrator and head of the city's government.
At a national level, Karachi is also the capital of the province of Sindh
, hosting the Provincial Assembly of Sindh
and where the political seat of the Government of Sindh
is centred.
provided for the devolution of government to district administrations. Naimatullah Khan
was elected as the first Nazim
(mayor) of Karachi in 2001 after the devolution plan. Syed Mustafa Kamal was elected as the second Nazim of Karachi in 2005.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement
(MQM) dominates the municipal political scene in Karachi. The MQM had the most elected members in the City District Government of Karachi (CDGK) elections in 2005.
, most of the seats in Karachi were won by the secular MQM followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP). The results showed and finalised a tilt in the favour of MQM from the city in terms of both provincial and federal politics.
who remain loyal to the party, which was originally created and led by Altaf Hussain
as a means to fight for the community's rights. Today, the party's following and fan base has extended to Karachi's religious minorities and interior sindh sindhi polpulation as well as punjabi, baluchi, siraeki, pashtuns, kashmiri's who lived in karachi and other parts of Sindh. Number of Pashtuns also live in the city, most of them belong to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and started to migrate to Karachi in the early 1960s during the Ayub Khan dictatorship and were employed as labourers in the city’s widespread construction business. Some of them, including those of Afghan origin, identify with more puritanical and conservative traditions and have been known supporters of ultra-conservative groups. Those who are secular support the left-wing Awami National Party
(ANP). Simultaneously, some of the Punjabi community supports moderate conservative parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League (N)
and the Punjabi Pakhtun Ittehad
(PPI).
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
is a multiethnic, multilingual, multicultural and multireligious metropolitan city. The demographics of Karachi
Demographics of Karachi
Karachi is the largest and most populous city in Pakistan. The population and demographic distribution in the megacity has undergone numerous changes over the past 150 years. On 14 August 1947, when it became the capital city of a new Dominion of Pakistan, its population was about 450,000 inhabitants...
are important as most politics in Karachi is driven by ethnic politics. Lala Fazal-ur-Rehman
Lala Fazal-ur-Rehman
Lala Fazal-ur-Rehman is the current administrator of Karachi District, Sindh, Pakistan.On February 20, 2010 the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement reached consensus on the issue of the appointment of the administrators for major cites in Sindh...
is the current administrator and head of the city's government.
At a national level, Karachi is also the capital of the province of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, hosting the Provincial Assembly of Sindh
Provincial Assembly of Sindh
The Provincial Assembly of the Sindh is a unicameral house of elected representatives of people of Sindh established under Article 106 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan...
and where the political seat of the Government of Sindh
Government of Sindh
Government of Sindh is based in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, Muhajirs, Pashtuns and a whole array of other ethnic and linguistic groups. Neighbouring regions are Balochistan to the west and north, Punjab in the north and...
is centred.
Municipal politics
The 2001 Local Government OrdinanceLocal government in Pakistan
The 2001 Local Government Ordinance provides for devolution of government to district administrations. The 2001 Local Government Ordinance provides for devolution of government to district administrations. The 2001 Local Government Ordinance provides for devolution of government to district...
provided for the devolution of government to district administrations. Naimatullah Khan
Naimatullah Khan
Niamthullah Khan was the Nazim of largest city of Pakistan, Karachi from August 2001-June 2005. He graduated from Punjab University with a Masters in Journalism and a Law Degree from Karachi University. He is lawyer by profession. He is the chairman of the biggest NGO of Pakistan, Alkhidmat...
was elected as the first Nazim
Nazim
A nazim is the coordinator of cities and towns in Pakistan. Nazim is the title in Urdu of the chief elected official of a local government in Pakistan, such as a district, tehsil, union council, or village council....
(mayor) of Karachi in 2001 after the devolution plan. Syed Mustafa Kamal was elected as the second Nazim of Karachi in 2005.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement
Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
(MQM) dominates the municipal political scene in Karachi. The MQM had the most elected members in the City District Government of Karachi (CDGK) elections in 2005.
Provincial and federal politics
During the 2008 Pakistani general electionPakistani general election, 2008
A general election was held in Pakistan on 18 February 2008, after being postponed from 8 January 2008. The original date was intended to elect members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora...
, most of the seats in Karachi were won by the secular MQM followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
(PPP). The results showed and finalised a tilt in the favour of MQM from the city in terms of both provincial and federal politics.
Ethnic politics
The demographics of Karachi are important as most politics in Karachi is driven and influenced by ethnic affiliation. The success of the MQM has always been patronised by the fact that city's population is dominated by the Muhajir peopleMuhajir people
Muhajir [literally – migrants] is a term commonly used especially by Pakistanis to describe the Muslim immigrants who chose to settle in Pakistan and shifted their domicile after partition of British India into Pakistan and India. Some had participated in the movement for creation of Pakistan in...
who remain loyal to the party, which was originally created and led by Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain is the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement . The MQM emerged as the third largest political party in the national assembly of Pakistan during 1988 and 1990 elections. The MQM secured representation in the parliamentary elections held in the northern areas of Pakistan...
as a means to fight for the community's rights. Today, the party's following and fan base has extended to Karachi's religious minorities and interior sindh sindhi polpulation as well as punjabi, baluchi, siraeki, pashtuns, kashmiri's who lived in karachi and other parts of Sindh. Number of Pashtuns also live in the city, most of them belong to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and started to migrate to Karachi in the early 1960s during the Ayub Khan dictatorship and were employed as labourers in the city’s widespread construction business. Some of them, including those of Afghan origin, identify with more puritanical and conservative traditions and have been known supporters of ultra-conservative groups. Those who are secular support the left-wing Awami National Party
Awami National Party
The Awami National Party is an Pashtun nationalist, socialist, centre-left political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International...
(ANP). Simultaneously, some of the Punjabi community supports moderate conservative parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
and the Punjabi Pakhtun Ittehad
Punjabi Pakhtun Ittehad
The Punjabi Pakhtun Ittehad is a political party in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It began as a movement to represent the rights of Punjabis and Pakhtuns living in Karachi and other urban areas of Sindh....
(PPI).
See also
- 2007 Karachi riots2007 Karachi riotsOn May 12, 2007, riots erupted across Karachi, capital of the province of Sindh and the most populous city in Pakistan. During the riots city roads were blocked, cars burned and hundreds of people were injured, killed and arrested, most of them political workers. Pakistan Peoples Party Awami...
- Altaf HussainAltaf HussainAltaf Hussain is the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement . The MQM emerged as the third largest political party in the national assembly of Pakistan during 1988 and 1990 elections. The MQM secured representation in the parliamentary elections held in the northern areas of Pakistan...
- City District Government of Karachi
- Culture of KarachiCulture of KarachiThe culture of Karachi is a manifestation of the lifestyle, festivals, literature, music, language, politics, cuisine and socio-economic conditions of the people of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan...
- Demographics of KarachiDemographics of KarachiKarachi is the largest and most populous city in Pakistan. The population and demographic distribution in the megacity has undergone numerous changes over the past 150 years. On 14 August 1947, when it became the capital city of a new Dominion of Pakistan, its population was about 450,000 inhabitants...
- Economy of KarachiEconomy of KarachiKarachi is referred as the financial capital of Pakistan; it accounts for a lion's share of Pakistan's revenue generation. It generates approximately 53.38% of the total collections of the Federal Board of Revenue, out of which 53.33% are customs duty and sales tax on imports. Karachi produces...
- History of KarachiHistory of KarachiThe area of Karachi , in Sindh, Pakistan was known to the ancient Greeks by many names: Krokola, where Alexander the Great camped in Sindh to prepare a fleet for Babylonia after his campaign in the Indus valley; 'Morontobara' port , from where Alexander's admiral Nearchus sailed for back home; and...
- Mayors of Karachi
- Muttahida Qaumi MovementMuttahida Qaumi MovementMuttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
- Nine ZeroNine ZeroNine Zero is the name given to the headquarters of Pakistan's third largest political party, Muttahida Quami Movement, in the National Assembly of Pakistan. It is located in Azizabad, a sub-division of Federal B. Area, Karachi...
- Operation Clean-upOperation Clean-upThe Operation Clean-up was a military operation led by Pakistan Army and the Army Rangers under the command of Brigadier Imtiaz Ahmed in Karachi, Pakistan that lasted from 1992−1994. The claimed goal of the operation was to 'cleanse' the city of "anti-social" elements...
- Pakistani general election, 2008Pakistani general election, 2008A general election was held in Pakistan on 18 February 2008, after being postponed from 8 January 2008. The original date was intended to elect members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora...
- Punjabi Pakhtun IttehadPunjabi Pakhtun IttehadThe Punjabi Pakhtun Ittehad is a political party in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It began as a movement to represent the rights of Punjabis and Pakhtuns living in Karachi and other urban areas of Sindh....
- Shahi SayedShahi SayedShahi Sayed or Shahi Syed is the president of Awami National Party Sindh chapter , Pakistan. Shahi Sayed is the chairman of the Pakhtun Action Committee or Pakhtun Loya Jirga of Karachi...
- Syed Mustafa Kamal