Altaf Hussain

Altaf Hussain was married to Faiza Altaf but they are currently divorced. They have one child, Afzaa Altaf.

Altaf Hussain was born on September 17, 1953 in Karachi, Pakistan. He has four sisters and six brothers. His family was originally from India but emigrated to Pakistan following independence from Great Britain in 1947. His father is NazirHussain and his mother is Khurseed Begum, both natives of Uttar Pradesh, India.

His father was an employee of Indian Railways before relocating to Pakistan. Hussain's paternal grandfather, Mohammed Ramazan, was a prominent religious leader in Agra, India.

In the late 1960s, his family relocated from Karachi to Azizabad, where he attended the ‘Government Boys Secondary School’. He graduated in 1969.

Hussainwent to the ‘City College of Karachi’ from where he completed his intermediate education. He then attended the ‘Islamia Science College’, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor in Science.

During his final year at the ‘University of Karachi’, in 1978, Hussain was arrested after protesting for the return of Pakistanis and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment and five strokes of the whip. After his release the same year,he formed the ‘All Pakistan Muhajir Students' Organization’ to represent the rights of Muhajir students.

In 1979, he graduated from the ‘University of Karachi’ with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. Following graduation, he worked as a trainee pharmacist for the ‘Seventh Day Adventist Hospital’ in Karachi.

In 1984, he formed the ‘MohajirQaumi Movement’ (MQM) political part in Pakistan. This was later renamed the ‘MuttahidaQaumi Movement’ in 1997.

Hussain was arrested following a political demonstration but the charges were later dropped, in 1986.

In 1987, Hussain and other MQM members were arrested and he was not released until 1988.

In 1988, MQM and Hussain participated in the national elections and the party won enough seats to be included in the ruling coalition. After a series of negotiations, the MQM lost power.

Altaf Hussain is the long-time leader of the Muhajir community in Pakistan and effectively controls the city of Karachi, the most populous city in the country.Hussain founded and has led the MQM political party since March 18, 1984.