Altaf Hussain, Azeem Ahmed Tariq and their friends (not in the frame) share lunch on the floor, using a newspaper as a mat, in a picture taken during their Karachi University days, likely in 1979.
In 1978, Altaf Hussain - then a humble student activist - was arrested for participating in a protest calling for the return of the Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh, most of whom are ethnically Bihari. He was sentenced to nine months in prison and five lashes.
When he was released after completing his sentence, Altaf Hussain formed the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Association, or the APMSO. Azeem Ahmed Tariq was among the founders of the new group. In the 1979 student union elections in Karachi University, the APMSO bagged 95 votes. In 1980, it received 900. As it made its presence felt, it became a key target of the armed strongmen of Islami Jamiat Talaba.
In the beginning, the IJT would rip off their banners, break up their stalls, and rough up their men. Then, they began to deny them space in the hostels in which they had a stronghold, and even threw APMSO activists out of the university with the help of their sympathizers.
The two men were among the founders of MQM in 1984.
In 1978, Altaf Hussain - then a humble student activist - was arrested for participating in a protest calling for the return of the Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh, most of whom are ethnically Bihari. He was sentenced to nine months in prison and five lashes.
When he was released after completing his sentence, Altaf Hussain formed the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Association, or the APMSO. Azeem Ahmed Tariq was among the founders of the new group. In the 1979 student union elections in Karachi University, the APMSO bagged 95 votes. In 1980, it received 900. As it made its presence felt, it became a key target of the armed strongmen of Islami Jamiat Talaba.
In the beginning, the IJT would rip off their banners, break up their stalls, and rough up their men. Then, they began to deny them space in the hostels in which they had a stronghold, and even threw APMSO activists out of the university with the help of their sympathizers.
The two men were among the founders of MQM in 1984.