Hammad Siddiqui’s Return to MQM-P Sparks Hopes for Organizational Revival

• Hammad Siddiqui’s anticipated return after a prolonged absence has generated optimism for reinvigorating MQM-P’s organizational structure.
• Senior leader Aminul Haque claims he was falsely accused in fabricated cases, and Muttahida will embrace his reintegration into the party.

KARACHI: As MQM-P navigates internal divisions, senior members anticipate that Hammad Siddiqui’s return could significantly strengthen the party’s organizational framework. The former Karachi Tanzeemi Committee (KTC) chief, who left the country in 2013 under directives from senior leadership following the dissolution of KTC by MQM’s London-based founder Altaf Hussain, is reportedly poised to rejoin the party.

For months, social media discussions have highlighted Siddiqui’s potential comeback, with MQM-P supporters and even those aligned with MQM-London sharing images of him and expressing hope for his early return.

Since 2016, Siddiqui’s whereabouts have remained undisclosed. While some reports in 2017 claimed he was detained in Dubai and handed over to Pakistani authorities, this was never officially confirmed, and his family did not pursue legal action or declare him missing.

Recent whispers suggest Siddiqui might have reappeared around two years ago but was delayed due to unresolved legal issues.

However, a reliable source notes that his key legal matter seems resolved following the Supreme Court’s decision in the Baldia factory fire case, which acquitted two MQM workers and dismissed conspiracy allegations by citing the prosecution’s failure to establish a motive.

Insiders within MQM-P note that while current leaders are preoccupied with public disputes, the party lacks a figure with Siddiqui’s grassroots connection. During his tenure as KTC chief from 2009 to 2013 in the unified MQM, he was deeply engaged with workers and the public, organizing rallies, meetings, and demonstrations.

Critics once accused him of employing coercive tactics during his KTC role, but many acknowledge that context has changed.

“The evidence is clear—no one has replicated his impact over the past 13 years,” an insider stated.

When contacted, Aminul Haque stated that Siddiqui was entangled in what he described as fabricated cases, including the Baldia factory fire incident.

“MQM has been cleared in the Baldia factory fire case after the Supreme Court nullified all charges, and Hammad Siddiqui is equally exonerated,” he added. “MQM-P will welcome him back, as his sacrifices for the party deserve recognition.”

When questioned about whether Siddiqui aligns with the Mustafa Kamal faction or Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui’s group, a source familiar with developments said: “He will adhere to party policies and support the current leadership.”

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