Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Mirza

Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Mirza
PS-57 Badin I (old Badin III)
Current Posts Minister: Home, Forest
Academic Qualifications MBBS : Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro
Profession(s) Agriculturist
Doctor
Industrialist
Party Affiliation Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (See other MPAs of this party)
Father's/Husband's Name Zaffar Hussain Mirza
Marital Status Married
Children 04
Date of Birth 1954-01-12
Place of Birth Hyderabad
Permanent Contact H.No. 38/1, Street No.23, Khayaban-e-Mujahid, Phase-V, D.H.A, Karachi
(O) 9204920-21, (M) 0345-3653638, 0300-8201668, (R) 5854677, (Fax) 9204922
Address in Constituency Mirza Farm House, Husainabad, Badin
Previous Official Positions
Official Body Post Duration
National Assembly Member 1993-96
Seminars & Conferences Attended
Event Participated as Country Year
Conference Member (International Medical Parliamentarians) France 1995
Conference Member (International Medical Parliamentarians) Thailand 1994
Relatives in present or past assemblies
Relationship Name Parliament Period
Wife Dr. Fehmida Mirza National Assembly 2008 -
Visits to other countries
Country Purpose of visit Duration
France
Iraq
Malaysia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Languages Sindhi

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Zulfiqar Mirza patronising criminals in Karachi: MQM MPs

Asim Yasin
Saturday, July 23, 2011
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ISLAMABAD: The PML-N and MQM staged a joint token walkout from the National Assembly on Friday to protest fresh incidents of violence in Karachi’s Malir area.

As the National Assembly session started, MQM legislator Sajid Ali on a point of order raised the issue of renewed violence in Karachi, saying Lyari gangs had killed seven people in Karachi Friday morning. Later MQM legislators staged a token walkout in protest and the PML-N joined them.

During the debate on the Karachi situation, MQM legislators accused Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza of patronising criminals under the garb of the Amn committee. The debate remained incomplete since no one from the government offered concluding remarks and the session was prorogued.

MQM’s Abdul Qadir Khanzada alleged that the Malir incident was part of a conspiracy to divide Karachi into five war zones and that this plan was finalised at a dinner hosted by the ANP for Zulfiqar Mirza and other PPP leaders. He said Mirza’s derogatory remarks about those who had migrated from India were also part of the same conspiracy to fuel linguistic and ethnic riots in Sindh.

Khanzada said following Mirza’s outburst the people of Kati Pahari and Qasba Colony were attacked by armed men and this bloodbath continued for five days while law enforcers did not intervene. He said the criminals wanted to expand these attacks to other parts of Karachi but the MQM did not allow them to do so.

MQM’s Khwaja Sohail Mansoor said the so-called democratic government had proved to be more autocratic than military rulers. “It looks like a conspiracy is being hatched to destabilise Pakistan. The poor have been deprived of their right to live. The people of the Amn Committee are involved in extortion, abduction, ransom and killings,” he said, adding that while the government claimed to be the champion of the rights of the people, its conduct in the Azad Kashmir elections negated this claim. He said the situation in Karachi was impacting the economy of the entire country and steps should be taken to improve it.

PPP’s disgruntled legislator and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi to set up a parliamentary committee to probe the reported fudging of figures to meet revenue targets, as appeared in ‘The News.’ The House ignored his demand.

Qureshi wondered if the resignation of the governor of State Bank of Pakistan and the chief economist of the Planning Commission as well as the sudden replacement of the auditor general were linked to the problem of figure fudging. He said Rs43 billion were taken from the banks and placed in the national treasury to show that revenue targets were achieved while later, on July 1, the amount was returned to the banks.

He said the government had set an unrealistic revenue target, which was impossible to achieve. “The target of Rs1.588 trillion was not achievable. According to the report in ‘The News,’ the presidents of private banks were asked to deposit Rs43 billion with the government before June-end, which were to be returned to in July. This figure fudging is a breach of the privilege of this august House,” he said.

Zafar Beg Bhittani of FATA alleged that the government had adopted a policy of confrontation with the judiciary, which did not augur well for the rule of law. He lamented that the price hike had made the life of the people miserable but the government was not taking serious measures to address the problems.

Abdul Qadir Baloch referred to the alarming situation in Balochistan and said remedial measures should be taken on a priority basis.

Agencies add: Parliamentary leader of the MQM in the National Assembly Haider Abbas Rizvi Friday urged the government to investigate the killing of innocent people in Karachi. Talking to the media outside the Parliament he said the destabilisation of Karachi meant the destabilisation of Pakistan. He said some elements wanted to destabilise the commercial hub of the country, and urged the government to take steps to stop the killing of innocent people.


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Mirza’s dashing son to replace father


Imtiaz Ali
Wednesday, October 12, 2011






Karachi

After the announcement by the firebrand PPP leader Zulfiqar Mirza to quit electoral politics, speculation is already rife that his dashing young son — Barrister Hasnain Mirza — will replace his father in the upcoming by-polls to the Badin provincial assembly seat which fell vacant after Mirza’s resignation as an MPA was accepted on Monday.

Only a day earlier, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro accepted the former home minister’s resignation as a member of the provincial assembly.

Hasnain geared up his efforts for rehabilitation of flood victims in his hometown of Badin last month, after his father’s thunderous press conference at the Karachi Press Club.

It seems he has already practically ventured into politics and a formal announcement is expected soon.

A journalist who covered rains devastation in Badin told The News that Hasnain seemed to be in charge of the relief activities for displaced persons in the district.

Journalists covering the dinner-cum-media chat of Zulfiqar Mirza at his residence on Monday could not help but notice Hasnain’s conspicuous attempt to meet every media person individually.

A local journalist in Badin told The News there was every likelihood that Hasnain would contest the upcoming by-polls. “His rival candidate would be PML-Q’s Pappu Shah,” he added.

According to him, the PPP has always found it difficult to compete on this constituency as a significant number of its voters belong to PML-F and PML-Q. Last time, Pappu Shah won this seat of Tando Bago because the PML-F supported him.

However, Provincial Election Commissioner Sono Khan Baloch told The News that his office had not received a notification from the Sindh Assembly secretariat to vacate the seat of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza on PS-57 in Badin.

He said that a decision about announcing the date of by-polls on Mirza’s constituency would be made after assessing the situation as Tando Bago was still inundated by rainwater.

A political observer also believed that Hasnain was being projected as the new face of Mirza family in Sindh’s politics.

Also, many PPP leaders, during private and public discussions, were of the view that Hasnain’s venture into politics would boast the ruling PPP’s image.

Meanwhile, Zulfiqar Mirza has been successful in garnering support from PPP MNAs over his stand on the local government system and other issues. Dr Nasrullah Baloch, an MPA from Sukkur and a close relative of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah, arranged a late-night meeting on Monday which was attended by Mirza and 12 other PPP MPAs, including Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro.

Although Baloch denied that any meeting took place, saying that he had simply hosted a dinner for the speaker Sindh Assembly, rumours are ripe that a forward PPP bloc is in the making.

The central PPP leader have reportedly expressed displeasure over the late-night gathering while a private TV channel reported that Khurshid Shah has been scolded by the top party brass for letting his residence to be used for such activities.

Besides, around 12 MPAs and three provincial ministers reportedly called on Mirza at his residence on Tuesday. One participant, MPA Imran Zafar Leghari, said that they often visited Mirza, so there was nothing suspicious about it. He claimed that all PPP MPAs would oppose the revival of the Musharraf-era LG system.


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War of words: Mirza rubbishes blasphemy claim with mufti by his side
Published: October 23, 2011

Dr Zulfiqar Mirza met influential Deobandi cleric Jamia Binoria International principal Mufti Muhammad Naeem to address a joint press conference on Saturday. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Dr Zulfiqar Mirza shot down the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s attempts to implicate him in a blasphemy case based on his remarks at a press conference by paying a visit to influential Deobandi clerics on Saturday.
Jamia Binoria International principal Mufti Muhammad Naeem, who has issued fatwas for or against causes, addressed a joint press conference with Mirza after a ‘friendly’ meeting. After highlighting four key sticking points, Naeem asked Mirza to clarify his position in his own words.
Naeem said there was a suspicion among the ulema that Mirza had tried to compare his act of staying put in Karachi to fight political rivals with the Holy Prophet’s (pbuh) migration from Makkah to Medina. Mirza clarified that his political rival, the MQM, was twisting his words. “The truth is that I’m not even worth the dust beneath the shoe of the Holy Prophet (pbuh),” Mirza said.
The mufti brought up a certain sectarian insult which he said Mirza should refrain from using as a politician. “I only said this because such words were used for me on the floor of the National Assembly in 1995,” the Pakistan Peoples Party leader clarified.
Mufti Naeem stressed that the leading Sunni ulema were extremely concerned when Mirza said that he would bring a “Khomeini-style” revolution to the country with Iran’s reference. Mirza explained that the only reason he used that example was because the only successful revolution in his lifetime and in recent Muslim history was the one brought by Khomeini. “If any other revolution comes up and is better than this, I will refer to that as well,” he said, stressing that it had nothing to do with sect.
In the end, Naeem urged Mirza and all other political leaders to stop using the Holy Quran for political purposes. He was referring to Mirza’s oath-taking during a press conference. “It is a sacred book and if it is used in a political playground, people would stop taking it as something sacred, but as a joke.”
During the press conference, Mirza expressed his gratitude to the clerics and described their suggestions as wise and sound. In a lighter vein, he said that although Mufti Naeem had expressed the hope that he too would one day convert to the Sunni sect from his current Shia sect, “it would be a tough contest”. “You try your best to make me a Sunni and I’ll try my best to make you a Shia,” he quipped.
Earlier in the day at the additional district and sessions court, Judge Mohammad Azeem directed the MQM’s Rauf Siddiqui to himself go to the Kalakot police station and file a First Information Report against Mirza for his alleged blasphemous remarks. Kalakot SHO Chand Khan Niazi was instructed to record Siddiqui’s statement and determine whether the accusations made against Mirza were cognisant of an offence. The SHO had stated before the court that in the press conference that was held on October 9 within the jurisdiction of his police station he had found nothing objectionable. Nonetheless, the judge directed the official to record the statement.
However, soon after the court’s directive was issued, hundreds of people in Lyari, including scores of women armed with eggs and tomatoes gathered around the Kalakot police station in anticipation of the MQM leader’s arrival. They chanted slogans against the party and Rauf Siddiqui and in favour of Mirza.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2011.

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ALERTS
SEVERAL STUDENTS INJURED DURING CLASH WITH POLICE PERSONNEL IN GUJRANWALA 10:46 PST

Zulfiqar Mirza unplugged: The fallen archangel
By Gibran Peshimam
Published: October 21, 2011

Former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza polarises opinions like no other – you either love him or hate him. Having developed a cult-like following across Pakistan, the doctor from Hyderabad has shown that he does more than just ignite sparks. The Express Tribune caught up with him for a long, engaging chat. PHOTO: NEFER SEHGAL
KARACHI:
Hurt is not a word associated with Zulfiqar Mirza – unless of course he is the one inflicting it.
Yet, off camera, the firebrand known for his cutting comments and scorching speeches is betrayed by his own voice and words.
Long regarded as President Asif Ali Zardari’s closest friend – a relationship that dates back over four decades to Cadet College Petaro – Mirza finds himself a controversial figure within his own party, a man whose belligerence has made him the polar opposite of his friend, the pacifist.
The effort to emphasise their strong friendship aside, Mirza finally admits, when pressed, that there is a level of resentment he now carries towards the president. “That’s why I am not with him now. Difference of opinion. I think in a different way,” he says. “He wants to sit with murderers, criminals, rapists, dacoits,” says Mirza with a touch of disappointment, adding that, “[these elements] want to break Pakistan.”
(Read: ‘Bad cop’ or double-edged sword?)
Initially, there were rumours that Mirza’s recent offensive against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and some top PPP leaders was actually held at the behest of the president – a sort of good-cop-bad-cop strategy.
The fallen archangel
But the events of the last few days suggest otherwise. Public criticism by his former friends and, more importantly, intense intra-PPP friction has made this a game too dangerous to be played out of strategy or choice.
(Read: Friction within the PPP)
Independent media accounts place Mirza’s open support within the PPP at 18 MPAs and 6 ministers. But Mirza says, confidently, that “these are just the ones who have been exposed.”
The PPP’s top leadership in Sindh has clearly been undermined by Mirza’s popularity inside the party’s ranks – which pushed the frantic leaders to try and cut the former home minister out of the scene completely. And he knows it.
“They are saying don’t meet me (Mirza). Openly in a meeting, Siraj Durrani shouted it, Pir Mazhar said it and the chief minister also said it. The CM’s staff is openly calling MPAs and threatening them [not to meet me]. Lady MPAs have been called over and over by Adi Faryal (Faryal Talpur, the president’s sister), and her messages were being delivered, that you [the MPAs] have been called.”
Though the leaders have clearly failed, the attempt has clearly hurt Mirza. Despite knowing that his stand is contrary to his party’s line, he seems almost surprised at the move.
For the first, and only, time in the interview Mirza is a bit ruffled.
“We can sit with Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, we can hug him. And MQM also, who are the killers of many of our brothers. With them we are ready to sit … but [not] Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, who didn’t let a scratch come to Shaheed Rani [Benazir Bhutto] even in two bomb blasts; who got her safe and sound to Bilawal House, and then, alone, on the request of Bibi, after the bomb blasts took her to visit [the wounded and dead] in the hospitals; who took her to Lyari, and after that, at 3 am, took her for pilgrimage to Sehwan Sharif … all by himself.” He goes silent.
“He, who Bibi had so much trust in, President Asif Ali Zardari had so much trust in … today, this is what I have become – an untouchable? Someone who meeting and eating with has become a sin?”
The hurt and surprise is short-lived though. “They need to realize that they are not sitting with Dr Zulfiqar… they are sitting with their motherland Sindh and for her sake.”
He is confident though that this deliberate isolation does not have the president’s sanction.
“The president called for some people… and he said to them they [who are stopping people from meeting Mirza] are not acting on my behalf, they are trying to be more loyal than the King.”
It is surprising that Mirza is surprised, given his barefaced criticism of his party’s hierarchy – in particular Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.
“You talk about the CM Sindh. The tragedy is that it has always been like this. In his previous tenure in ‘88, even then things were like this. PSF students used to get up on their tables and ridicule him. Then too he was PPP president (Sindh) and CM.
“It is for this reason – that one CM is not working out – that they have given a CM to his left, right, in front and behind. He is surrounded by four CMs. Some are elected, some are unelected. But they are acting like CMs.”
His advice to the veteran politician from Khairpur: “He should go home. It is high time. His own people need him.”
Rumours have long circulated that the Sindh CM will be changed – the two names making rounds as possible candidates are Agha Siraj Durrani and Pir Mazharul Haq. What does Mirza think?
“Over my dead body. I should go to the grave first, then they can become chief minister.”
He is careful, however, when it comes to naming who he thinks would make a good chief minister. “If I take the name of a genuine person, his future will be ruined.”
And if Dr Mirza is ever requested by President Zardari to take over as chief minister?
“I would refuse. I am not purchasable, or for sale.”
Chief ministership aside, Dr Mirza has developed a cult-like following not only in his party, but among other parties, and, most importantly, among the masses.
(Read: The genie is out)
Like him or not, Mirza could be described as one of the most influential politicians in the country at the moment. Unlike other PPP ‘dissenters’ that faded into obscurity, such as Naheed Khan, Safdar Abbasi and most recently Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Mirza wields a lot of clout, even in the assemblies. All attempts to sideline him have failed.
The local government bill that restores a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) favoured system, which is ardently opposed by Dr Mirza, is now set to be rejected by the Sindh legislature. Contrary to public image, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza is humble about this.
(Read: Limits to reconciliation – Zulfiqar Mirza dares PPP to pass bill pleasing MQM in assembly)
“People are stuck in euphoria … Actually it is not me. It is the issue. [It is] a genuine issue of Sindh, at least. And the honour of Sindh and Sindhis … whether they are Urdu-speaking, Punjabi-speaking, Pashtu-speaking or Balochi-speaking.
“This is not Zulfiqar Mirza. The only credit to me is that I have awakened them. I threw light on the issues. I stirred them slightly and I woke them up. That’s all I did. And I did this by doing the smallest, and easiest thing … which is, to tell the truth. To lie, you have to tell 36 more lies. So I said a small truth. The thing that can be done with minimal effort. I just woke them up slightly, those who dream, like Manzoor Wassan – but it is unfortunate that he is [still] in a deep sleep.”
(Read: US ready to help improve Karachi situation: Wassan)
The rejection of the MQM-favoured local government system, however, is not the main issue for Mirza.
“I have other reasons. Not just the bill. If it lapses and it comes back in original form, which we had passed, my war doesn’t end there,” he emphasises.
“That will be my first moral victory. My actual fight is for and my aim is to get rid of the MQM as soon as possible.”
Mirza’s initial fame undoubtedly owes to his verbal onslaughts against the MQM. His open criticism of the party and direct attacks against MQM chief Altaf Hussain are unprecedented. Even the staunchest opponents of a party that has long been considered to use violence as a political tool have not openly said the things Mirza has – for fear of repercussions, or otherwise.
But there are no half-measures with Mirza.
In contrast to his public and television appearances, Mirza’s criticism of the party, in person, is studied, analytical and rationalised. His words transcend mere impulsive remarks he has become famous for.
Firstly, he is dead set on the fact that MQM is the cause of political violence in the city. And the notion that ‘target killings’ are a recent phenomenon is rubbished by him.
“If you analyse this term, it is ‘political killings’. Otherwise, every killing is a target killing. God forbid, if I want to kill you, I have to target you. Except people who die from dengue, malaria etc,” says Mirza with a smirk.
(Read: Plan A or plan banana?)
“Otherwise, murdering someone with a gun, with a knife, with a sword, with a hatchet, is target killing,” says Mirza, living up to his reputation of being able to make anyone uneasy.
“Target killing was always there, especially since the MQM came into existence. In 1984-85, it increased,” holds Mirza. “There are many factors,” he admits, but adds emphatically that “the major factor behind such mass killings is the MQM.”
The doctor in him then comes to the surface as he moves to deftly and mercilessly dissect the psychology of the party – like a sociologist as opposed to the fiery political orator.
“Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s existence, politically, in Karachi and controlling Karachi’s affairs … they control everything, even their own party, through the barrel of a gun.
“I am saying this because, look, their party’s chairman, Azeem Tariq, was murdered. After his murder, the MQM has been in power a few times, and every time they have shared power they have overwhelmed the majority (ruling) party. Not as underdogs. They have had home ministers. I want to ask: how much was Azeem Tariq’s murder investigated? Were the statements of his wife and children even recorded? If not, then it means that they are not interested. And why is one not interested? Because one knows when they take interest, the case may lead back to them.
“It is not hidden from anyone that Azeem Tariq and Altaf Hussain had their differences. Similarly, they have many good people in their ranks, who, due to difference of opinion – there is difference of opinion everywhere, at home, between brothers and sisters, parents, even in parties. In political parties, different people of different mindsets sit together; there should be a difference of opinion. Every person should be thinking independently and democracy’s basic essence is this.
“But those leaders who have had a difference of opinion [in the MQM], including the ex speaker of the Sindh Assembly Raziq Khan, their transport minister Badar Iqbal – there are many names, – whoever left the party was murdered.
“When a Peoples Party member leaves, why aren’t they murdered? An ANP member leaves … Ajmal Khan was a big leader, he left; he wasn’t murdered by the ANP. Mumtaz Bhutto left Peoples Party, he is alive. Hafeez Pirzada left, Jatoi sb left, lots of people leave. Even now, you can see lots of people hold a different opinion … [but] they are just ignored or sidelined by a party maybe. They aren’t killed.
“So they [MQM] blackmail their own party members and through the barrel of the gun control them. Many straight people come into their trap. They cannot leave of their own free will. It is apparent from this what the nature of their politics is. MQM’s style is: Whoever doesn’t listen, he will go to Khamoshnagar (silent area)… by that I mean the graveyard.
“I can give several examples. I have written a thesis on them. I mean, it is not admissible in any university or anything,” chuckles Mirza.
The conversation takes a bit of a detour here with the mention of theses and degrees. Maybe he could get an honorary degree, ala Interior Minister Rehman Malik, he is told, tongue-in-cheek.
He pauses, and his face wears a look of disgust.
“Disgrace. Pakistan has been disgraced internationally by giving a person like Rehman Malik an honorary doctorate. Those who have put in so much hard work to get a degree or a doctorate from there, they must be crying in their hearts. And I share their grief. Anyway, we’re drifting…”
Back to the MQM.
“So this is their style. There are studies. There was one in a university in Texas. They interviewed people who are in self exile who have told how [the MQM] first studies a person. They pick a person from a broken home … where the father or the breadwinner has died or there is no food at home. These people are picked and indoctrinated that ‘our community is being wronged, that we are a deprived nation. Punjabis are eating our share, Sindhis are eating our share…’
“They pick such people from the Urdu-speaking community and then motivate them. Then that person is made to commit a crime. Once he has murdered, he has no one else. Only the party protects them. The person is blackmailed.
“There was one guy who was interviewed whose final murder was that of a policeman’s pregnant wife. This woman’s head was cut off and put in the refrigerator in that house. So that her husband and other policemen get the message. This is their way.
“There are many stories. Torture cells, people being drilled with drill machines. We have visited our people in hospital during Bibi’s time. There was one young person admitted in Aga Khan Hospital, he was a PSF student, an aggressive type. He was picked up. A steel pipe was stuck in his urethra, and through that pipe they poured concentrated sulphuric acid. His entire urethra was damaged. A young guy from Gilgit. His only crime was that he was against the MQM, or pro-PPP.
“There are several cases of drilled bodies. Just imagine, a person who is alive, a drill penetrating him. It is better to just kill him. They are not human beings.”
Mirza’s assault is not frenzied. It is almost frighteningly calculated and analytical.
But what of the MQM and its chief’s obvious support base in Karachi?
“That’s why I say, his mandate is 50% of what he gets. 50% is through stamping, through the barrel of the gun.”
But even 50% of that mandate is still pretty big in a city such as Karachi…
“They [the rest of the 50%] have been hypnotised. He is a performer. They have fallen for his drama… poor people, innocent people. There are many uneducated among them. But the tragedy is that many of them are indeed educated. They get stuck in a vicious cycle. They can’t get out.
“He has a gang. It is a mafia,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Even in a country like America, there were mafias, there are mafias. What was Don Corleone? He had a following too. Mafia chiefs were then even elected. This happens everywhere in the world. Unfortunately, this is the reality.”
Mirza speaks of a need to treat “criminals like criminals” – a crackdown, effectively. But he is then reminded of previous operations against the MQM, after which the party emerged stronger politically and otherwise.
“You never succeed in war or love halfheartedly,” he responds. So he believes the 1992 operation was halfhearted? “There were wheels within wheels,” he says cryptically.
Mirza is then asked of the fears that many hold that a crackdown against the party, or not taking them on board, would have consequences…
“…what repercussions!?” he interrupts, “They have no street power! They begged everybody, when they gave me an ultimatum: ‘Leave Karachi in 48 hours’. When I used those derogatory words at Shahi Syed’s place, the next day they gave me an ultimatum – leave or we will gather 50,000 people. They could not gather more than 2,000 boys.”
“I can prove that they are working against Pakistan, Rehman Malik and co and MQM…”
And co?
“You know … Dr Babar Awan … the darling of the Pakistan nation. These two darlings,” he says mockingly.
Still, whatever the reasons, his long-time friend, President Zardari insists on keeping the MQM and ‘Rehman Malik and Co.’ on board despite Mirza’s assertions.
“The president is my best buddy, and I am his best buddy,” he still insists. However, when asked when the last time they spoke was, he stops to calculate.
“25-30 days.”
But you’re still best friends? “Yes. Absolutely,” he responds without blinking.
“We speak through our hearts,” he says, smirking, almost as if he doesn’t know what else to say when asked why “best buddies” wouldn’t speak to each other for such a long time.
“I have a lifetime commitment to that family, you understand?” he explains.
“And I am committed to ‘others’ [referring possibly to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari] doubly because I was committed to Asif from before and he to me. And when he married Bibi, for Bibi we were, and are, ready to sacrifice our homes, our children,” he says with a touch of emotion creeping into his voice.
But you won’t contact him? “I’m not going to call,” he says stubbornly, “He’s most welcome to call me. I respect him, he is my brother.”
What would it take for him to contact the president, he is asked – perhaps the government’s stepping away from the MQM?
“I will go and congratulate him,” his eyes lighten up, “I will garland him.” But, he adds: “I doubt he will do that. Khair… I don’t know. Because I know he can also hold on to such an attitude.”
Mirza says he is still “100 per cent” about his decision to quit “electoral politics”. But given his rise to prominence, it doesn’t look like he needs to return to wield power.
Clearly, in person, there is a lot more to Mirza than the furious man seen on television delivering charged speeches. Wearing a blue polo shirt, and blue suede shoes – as opposed to the traditional shalwar kameez or suit he is generally seen in – he looks different sitting in his meticulously done living room in his Khayaban-e-Shaheen home in Karachi. The room is done up in a tasteful gold/bronze theme with tinge of maroon.
The pictures on display seem purposeful. One table has a picture of him with President Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto. Besides that there is a black and white picture of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah delivering a speech. On another table, there is a picture of just Benazir Bhutto. Other tables, further away, have family pictures.
The lead up to his rise to political fame has been hard-earned, including a 12-year disappearing act due to a number of cases against him pursued first by the infamous Saifur Rehman commission of Nawaz Sharif’s second government and then by the provincial government of chief minister Ghulam Arbab Rahim.
“I saw the best parts of our country in these years,” he recalls. “I used to visit my area – sometimes on donkey cart, sometimes on bull cart, sometimes on bike to attend funerals. I was in touch with my people.”
It was however difficult on the man.
“When I left my house, my youngest son (Hassam) was three years of age. He was very attached to me, he used to sleep on my chest. For quite some time after my disappearance, he could not sleep,” says Mirza.
“Daily, when I went to bed, I always used to think I might not get up tomorrow morning. When I used to sleep, I only used to see the hangman’s noose.”
“Those 12 years I was all by myself, All alone. The most lonely person.”
(Read: Man on fire)
But he bounced back. “God is great,” he exclaims, with a satisfied grin on his face.
Despite the hardships and controversy, Mirza finds time for his passions – vintage cars and guns. In his driveway is a red 1939 Morris which he insists is not the best of his collection. It is there so that he can work on it a bit. “She needs some replacements.”
“I am a low profile, poor car collector and a gun collector. These two things are my passion,” he says.
“I have about 50 plus classics,” he declares proudly, growing prouder still when mentioning his favourite: a vintage Armstrong Siddeley, which used to belong to the Nawab of Bhawalpur.
“I also enjoy altering cars myself,” adds Mirza. “I dissected a CJ-7 from a 2-door to a 4-door and made it broader from the front. It looks like a hummer but is faster than a hummer. The chassis, gear everything is of a land cruiser. “And I’ve stretched a Pontiac to make it a limo.”
His nature changes when the topic is off politics. At one point, he jokingly tells the interviewer that they should eat cake, because they “can afford to eat it.”
Other topics are also discussed, and for a moment one forgets where they are and whom they are speaking to. He could be any other man. But he isn’t. He’s Dr Zulfiqar Mirza – a man on a mission that would make even the bravest shudder.
Read Dr Zulfiqar Mirza’s profile here.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2011.

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Who is Dr Zulfiqar Mirza?
By Gibran Peshimam
Published: October 21, 2011

LAYOUT & ILLUSTRATION: AMNA IQBAL & JAMAL KHURSHID ORIGINAL IMAGE: NEFER SEHGAL
KARACHI: Born in Hyderabad on 12 January, 1954, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza holds an MBBS from Liaquat Medical College Jamshoro.
He admits that he bounced around schools, which included Cadet College Petaro, Muslim College Hyderabad and Cantt College Hyderabad.
Mirza was active politically with the PPP from his student days. He was elected the vice president of his college union on the PPP platform. He recalls that, back then, there were no actual units of the Peoples Student Federation.
After graduating with an MBBS in 1980, he joined the Pakistan Army medical corps as a captain. Then, after training from Kakul, Mirza was was posted to the Pakistan Navy.
Mirza is no stranger to controversy and has been landing up in trouble for his strong stands since those days.
He was “thrown out” of the armed forces in 1985 – the year of Gen. Ziaul Haq’s referendum, because he refused to vote.
In the middle of his stint in the services, Mirza got married – a time which he refers dotingly to as “the best part of my life” – in 1982. He would go on to have four children, two sons and two daughters.
He then joined Pakistan International Airlines, where he worked till 1989.
In 1989, Mirza opened up a sugar mill in Badin, during Benazir’s first government. Therein after, Mirza became actively involved in “real” politics.
He first applied for a PPP ticket in 1993, which he contested from Badin – and won a seat to the National Assembly.
He was parliamentary secretary commerce, director of the Pakistan medical and dental council, a member of the International medical parliamentarians association, a member of the then accountability committee, a member of the Kashmir committee as well as a member of the overseas foundation.
Despite his activeness, or perhaps due to it, Mirza would not see the inside of the assemblies till 2008.
He went underground in Pakistan for 12 years due to a number of cases against him. He spent time in different areas of Pakistan, including areas of Punjab and what is now referred to as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
But his wife, Fehmida Mirza, who is currently speaker of the National Assembly, took over from him and won the Badin NA seat in 1997 – the year the PPP won only 17 seats – in 2002 and then in 2008.
Because of her success, Mirza opted to contest for Badin’s provincial assembly seat in 2008, and was made home minister of the province.

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Mirza extorts Rs6 million from Ghas Mandi: Wassan
By Raheel Jawed - Nov 8th, 2011 (No Comment)
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Khairpur: Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan alleged on Tuesday that former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza is the biggest extortionist and that he extorts Rs6 million monthly from Ghas Mandi area of Karachi.
Talking to media here in Wassan House, he said that 110 target killers and 58 extortionists have been arrested during operations in Karachi. “I will take action against Mirza and his partners soon.”
He claimed that he had proofs about Mirza’s corruption.
Mirza most corrupt person: Manzoor Wassan
By Shahid Abbasi - Nov 7th, 2011 (No Comment)

Karachi: Dr Zulfiqar Mirza is the most corrupt person and before leveling allegations against others he should tell people what he had done in the past.
These remarks were made by Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan in response to the recent assertions by Dr Mirza in which he said that PPP ministers Pir Mazharul Haq, Aga Siraj Durrani and Manzoor Wassan were involved in corruption.
Wassan said that Dr Mirza should tell people under oath what he told me after becoming the home minister.
The home minister said that Dr Mirza should realize how he had reached to his current status. He asked the former home minister to tell people who are Nawab Mazari and Amir Bhanbhro.

Wasan claims to defeat Mirza in Badin polls
By Hafeez Baloch - Nov 7th, 2011 (No Comment)
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Khairpur: Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wasan has claimed that if party gives task, he can defeat Zulfiqar Mirza from Badin.
Addressing a public meeting in Kherpur, he said that nationalists are only interested in land grabbing. He dared former Sindh home minister Zulfiqar Mirza to talk about the dispute over Badin Airport and Bin Qasim land with MQM.
Pakistan People’s Party never took any decision against Sindh, whether it was Kalabagh Dam issue or NFC Award.
Mirza should talk about the whole country instead of Sindh, he remarked, he added that he knows who is behind Zulfiqar Mirza.


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Fresh war of words between Wasan and MirzaMukhtar Alam | Back Page | From the Newspaper November 10, 2011 (2 days ago)
Dr Zulfikar Mirza. - File Photo


KARACHI: A fresh and ferocious war of words has broken out between Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan and his predecessor Zulfikar Mirza, laying bare the internecine warfare in the Pakistan People’s Party.

Normally jovial and rather soft-spoken, Wasan accused Mirza on Wednesday of indulging in extortion and said he had evidence to prove the charge. He also named a couple of people who, according to him, acted as front-men for Mirza.

Wasan alleged that Mirza was involved in kidnapping for ransom and that the former minister would not escape the law because an inquiry into extortion and encroachment of land in Karachi had already been ordered.

“Mirza used to receive Rs6 million as extortion money alone in Karachi’s Ghas Mandi,” Wasan alleged at a press conference at the Wasan House in Khairpur.

On his part, Mirza claimed that Wasan had become quite resourceful in his capacity as home minister, adding that he could not understand why Wasan had so far not been able to arrest him for the crimes he was supposed to have committed.

“If I used to get Rs6 million then Wasan certainly must be receiving Rs12 million.”

He said he would launch a campaign against corrupt ministers, ensuring that they did not reach assemblies again.

On Monday, Mirza had alleged that “Agha Siraj Durrani, Manzoor Wasan, Pir Mazharul Haq and Zahid Bhurgary” were all corrupt.

And while Mirza once described Wasan as an “uneducated fool”, the latter said he had could defeat the former in elections in his home constituency of Badin.

Siraj Durrani said he and Mirza had been friends for 40 years, but he (Mirza) should not try to become Saifur Rehman (chairman of the Ehtesab Bureau in the last PML-N government). He said if Mirza had any proof or allegations he should go to court to prove these.

He added that Mirza should contest election against any PPP worker and then he would find out where he stood.

Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq said, Mirza was not active in the PPP from 1983 to 1988.

Mirza and his wife were given party tickets and he was made home minister because of his friendship with President Zardari, he added.

Speaking at a press conference at Circuit House on Wednesday, he alleged that Mirza had set up sugar mills through corruption.

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Mirza leaves for UK with evidences against MQM and Malik
By Fahim Patel - Nov 16th, 2011 (1 Comment)
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Karachi: Former Sindh home minister Dr. Zulfiqar mirza has said that he is leaving for London with evidences against Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
Zulfiqar Mirza talking to media at Karachi Airport here on Tuesday, said that I have two bags of evidences regarding the murder case of slain leader of MQM, Dr. Imran Farooq.
He asked the people to pray for his success and said that he will return back to country after one week with good news for the public.

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With Mirza by his side, Afaq’s spirits rise as court says no arrest


By Zeeshan Mujahid
Published: November 15, 2011

Afaq Ahmed also said that his party would be taking part in the general elections. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: Afaq Ahmed shredded the prosecution’s technicality-laden case with his simple arguments on Tuesday, making it easy for the court to arrive an order in his favour. He will not be arrested in the case registered by the water board staffer, who accused the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-H) chief of ordering his kidnapping and torture from behind bars.
The Sindh High Court’s Justice Maqbool Baqar effectively binned the FIR, as there was not an iota of evidence against Afaq, who asked for bail so that he could get out of jail after seven long years. “I have been in prison since 2004 and all 11 cases were filed while I was incarcerated,” he said, adding that the papers all said that the crimes were committed at his “behest”. As a result, Afaq is free of this case – but he remains behind bars as he has yet to make bail in one last case, dating to 2002.
During the course of the hearing, the judge asked whether the police had arrested the men who were accused of actually kidnapping and torturing the water board staffer Khalid Hussain. The PG said that Yameen alias Hakla, Ejaz alias Baboo, Raees alias Topi and another man were on the run.
Hussain’s lawyer continued to oppose Afaq’s bail on technical grounds but Justice Baqar said: “Right now you don’t have the right of audience.” He then turned to the PG and later to Afaq to ask about his cases pending adjudication.
The bench also went through the doctor’s report of injuries to Khalid Hussain.
Come on buddy, let’s both face court, says Afaq
Meanwhile, another bench, of Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard Afaq’s petition asking for the police to be ordered to register an FIR against MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Anees Qaimkhani, Syed Haider Imam Rizvi and others. He wants the FIR to be registered for an attack on the MQM-H headquarters Bait-ul Hamza in which two workers were killed. The bench ordered for notices to be issued to the PG and AG for November 28.
A spirited Afaq said that soon Altaf Hussain, the chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) would be facing a court of law and then alone Karachi and its people would be rid of “politics at gunpoint”.
Talking to the media during a one-hour adjournment for his bail hearing, Afaq said that, “The two men arrested as accused in the murder of Dr Imran Farooq were directly linked to the brutal murder and now it will not be possible for the MQM chief to come to Karachi, ending his self exile”.
Rehman Malik was correct when he denied the arrests as disclosed by the London Police, Afaq said, explaining that Malik did not necessarily know this as not all federal agencies reported to him. Some of them directly report to the prime minister. “These alleged killers were not arrested by the police and therefore it is not necessary for this to be in [Malik’s] knowledge,” Afaq said. Altaf Hussain was behind the murders of Raziq Khan, SM Tariq, Azeem Ahmed Tariq, Badr Iqbal, Khalid bin Waleed and several others. The entire city is being held hostage to guntoting youngsters and we want to rid the city of Altaf Hussain and his men, he said.
Afaq also said that his party would be taking part in the general elections.
Mirza apprehends arrest
Afaq was not alone in court as former home minister Zulfiqar Mirza sprang a few surprises when he reached the SHC to express solidarity with the MQM-H chief.
The first surprise was Mirza’s sudden appearance and the second was his intelligence that MQM planned to make an appearance in Afaq’s bail plea. Indeed, Muhammad Jivani advocate of the MQM’s legal aid committee opposed Afaq’s bail in the water board staffer’s case.
Mirza suddenly appeared in the courtroom at 9:15am and sat next to Afaq. He was in the middle of exchanging pleasantries when the Reader issued a general warning for people to stay quiet and maintain the decorum of the court.
Silence fell immediately but Mirza kept whispering to Afaq who nodded in agreement frequently. The two leaders were surrounded by the MQM-H’s central information secretary and a few workers.
Later, Mirza talked to the media in the corridor. He said that he had openly supported the “oppressed” Afaq for six months.
On another note, Mirza said: “I have a feeling that in my own government [PPP rule] I will go to jail. With this in mind, I am readying myself to climb the stairs of the court as I am aware that the lift is not used for prisoners. They have to take the stairs.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2011.

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Imran Farooq murder case: Mirza jets off to London to brief Scotland Yard
By Hafeez Tunio
Published: November 16, 2011

PPP workers were also present at the airport, chanting slogans to support him. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI:
Just before taking off for London on Tuesday night, former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, dropped another bombshell – he was going to brief the Scotland Yard about the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Imran Farooq.


Not one to shy away from controversy, Dr Mirza told the media at the Karachi Airport that he was going away for a week and the people of Pakistan were going to hear good news regarding a breakthrough in the Imran Farooq murder case

. “I have two briefcases filled with proof which will help the Scotland Yard police,” he said.

Chanting slogans to support the former Sindh home minister, workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party were also present at the airport.
Despite warnings from President Asif Ali Zardari telling his party workers to avoid associating with Mirza, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, along with PPP MPAs Imdad Pitafi and Fayyaz Bhutt, accompanied him to the airport. There were reports that Memon was also flying out with Mirza via UAE on Emirates Airline flight EK603. However, despite repeated attempts, no contact could be established with the minister, and no government or party official confirmed the news.
Some senior leaders of the PPP, including Sindh Revenue Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar, also held meetings with Mirza on Tuesday morning, sources within the party told The Express Tribune, adding that Memon and other PPP MPAs who have been supporting Mirza on the local government system were also present during those meetings.
Other than that, Awami National Party President Shahi Syed, leaders of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement and defunct Peoples Aman Committee also held separate meetings with Mirza at his residence in Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2011.

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Sindh Home Minister leaves a trail of speculations
By Our Correspondent
Published: April 26, 2012

Wassan is the second home minister to have served in Sindh during the current government’s tenure.
KARACHI:

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Chief Minister denied that Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan was removed. Speculations resulting from the minister’s request for leave have led sources to claim that there was a possibility of an administrative shake-up — from the highest levels down to the police SHOs.

“Wassan has gone on a medical leave and will resume his job soon,” said the spokesperson. “He has not been removed and there will not be any reshuffling.”

However, sources said that it was after President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his concern over the law and order situation in Karachi during meetings and briefings on Monday and Tuesday, that Wassan asked the chief minister for a month’s leave for medical reasons. The president was seriously concerned over the situation. When briefed about the police, he claimed that their performance had been very poor. He was also told that they had become extremely politicised. The adviser to the Sindh Home Minister, Sharfuddin Memon, confirmed that Wassan had been given permission by President Zardari to go on leave. “Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah will be taking care of things while the home minister is away,” said Memon.

The law-and-order situation in Karachi has deteriorated over the past few months and the home department has admitted as much. But the officials say that the home minister’s request is purely a personal decision and not linked with the meetings on the law and order situation in the city. Wassan is the second home minister to have served in Sindh during the current government’s tenure. When his predecessor Zulfiqar Mirza went on leave, his portfolio was managed by the chief minister.

Sources in the police said that there was a possibility that the Inspector General Sindh Mushtaq Shah could become a casualty if an administrative shakeup did take place and then the Additional Inspector General Akhtar Hussain Gorchani could become IG Sindh by default. However, no official summary was sent to the capital regarding any change in the Sindh police department as yet.

Wassan, who was in Hyderabad on Wednesday, contradicted the speculations about the change of face in the home ministry and claimed that he would resume the charge on his return from the United Kingdom. But betraying the certainty in his assertion, he said, “I will accept any other responsibility that the party gives me. I am not stubborn.”

He was talking to the media at the residence of the late Sindhi singer Master Manzoor after offering condolences to the family. Like his predecessor, Zulfiqar Mirza, Wassan’s nine-month long stint is still to control that spiral.

Also like Mirza, he is going on leave at a time when the law and order has plunged to the level which existed before the suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court last year.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26th, 2012.

One of our paternal uncle Baqar Naqvi how politely and boldly exposed feudal lord #Zardari. [with Syed Nayyar Abbas Aabidi ] https://www.facebook.com/saqlain.syed.357/posts/1363687020413143 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2xfkdn ================