Hammad Siddiqui

{{Short description|Pakistani politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2024}} [[File:Hammad Siddiqui.JPG|thumb|Hammad Siddiqui talking with Geo Super during Shuhada-e-Haq Tape Ball Cricket Tournament 2012]]

'''Hammad Siddiqui''' ({{langx|ur| حماد صدیقی }}) is a Pakistani politician who served as the in-charge of Karachi Tanzeemi Committee (KTC) of Muttahida Qaumi Movement. The party, which consider herself a secular political party in Pakistan,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Walker|first=Marquita R.|title=Protecting the Workforce: A Defense of Workers' Rights in Global Supply Chains|date=2019|publisher=Lexington Books|isbn=978-1-4985-8616-0|location=Lanham, MD|pages=79}}</ref> had its power centered in the largest city and ex-capital Karachi where it has won large number of national, provincial and local body seats till 2013 Elections. Siddiqui is accused of burning an entire factory with 250+ people inside the factory. Who is considered as the mastermind of this incident. It's said that Hammad Siddiqui and MQM Leader Saeed Bharam had ordered the arson attack in Tahir Plaza [https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/08/23/tahir-plaza-arson-case-mqm-hitman-produced-in-atc/] .

== Career == Siddiqui is a central leader of the party's student body All Pakistan Muttahidda Students Organization.<ref name="azfar">[https://www.dawn.com/news/1130232 Spotlight on MQM 'Muscle body']. Dawn</ref> He became the head of the Karachi Tanzeemi Committee, a very important and influential body of MQM, in 2009, and kept the position for over four years. His role was said to be instrumental in expanding MQM's influence in Karachi.<ref>[https://archive.today/20141224110753/http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta3/tft/article.php?issue=20130531&page=6 A new MQM?]. The Friday Times</ref><ref>[http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-179118-Hammad-Siddiqui-shown-the-door Hammad Siddiqui shown the door]. The News International</ref> According to Azfar-ul-Ashfaque of Dawn, as "the longest-serving head of the KTC", he "expanded the committee’s role from a mere post office to an all-powerful body that had a say even in the nomination of party candidates for election to the provincial and national assemblies".<ref name="azfar" />

Siddiqui was sacked on 21 May 2013 when Altaf Hussain decided to dissolve KTC for violating party discipline.<ref>[http://tribune.com.pk/story/552851/mqm-terminates-basic-party-membership-of-ktc-in-charge MQM terminates basic party membership of KTC in-charge]. The Express Tribune</ref><ref>[http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2013/May/international_May753.xml&section=international&col= Coordination committee of MQM dissolved] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419164107/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data%2Finternational%2F2013%2FMay%2Finternational_May753.xml&section=international&col= |date=2015-04-19 }}. Khaleej Times</ref> He shortly left for Dubai and, according to media reports, his sudden departure made the airport agencies "panicking".<ref>[http://www.geo.tv/article-102234-Former-MQM-KTC-In-charge-Hammad-Siddiqui-off-to-Dubai Former MQM KTC In-charge Hammad Siddiqui off to Dubai]. Geo TV</ref><ref>[http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-102234-MQM-ex-office-bearer-Hammad-Siddiqui-off-to-Dubai MQM ex office bearer Hammad Siddiqui off to Dubai]. The News International</ref> Political commentator Dr. Shahid Masood argues that Siddiqui's sacking "had sectarian touch to it".<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150630005326/http://www.thenewstribe.com/2014/02/01/mqm-will-face-more-problems-in-future-shahid-masood/ MQM will face more problems in future: Shahid Masood]}}. The News Tribe</ref>

== Baldia incident == On 19 December 2016 Rehman Bhola appeared before the anti-terrorism court. He confessed that Hammad Siddiqui allegedly sought extortion and shares in the Baldia Factory, and upon refusal, he decided to punish them. Bhola allegedly claimed that Siddiqui ordered him to set the factory on fire.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Harriss-White|first1=Barbara|title=The Wild East: Criminal Political Economies in South Asia|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.doa.121|last2=Michelutti|first2=Lucia|date=2019|publisher=UCL Press|isbn=978-1-78735-324-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/dli.doa.121/page/n319 305]}}</ref> It was reported that the politician tried to extort Rs 200 million of ''bhatta'' or protection money.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/135438/hammad-siddiqui-makes-shocking-revelations-baldia-incident/|title=Hammad Siddiqui makes shocking revelations about Baldia incident|date=2017-11-06|website=Daily Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref> After the hearing, the ATC also issued red warrants for Siddiqui. The authority is seeking Interpol to arrest Hammad Siddiqui and bring him in the country for further investigation. On 27 October 2017 it has been reported that he was arrested by Interpol in Dubai and Pakistani consulate in Dubai directed to make arrangement to shift him to Pakistan.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20210824093454/https://www.samaa.tv/en/pakistan/2016/03/hammad-siddiqui-arrives-in-karachi/ Hammad Siddiqui]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Siddiqui, Hammad}} Category:Living people Category:Muhajir people Category:Muttahida Qaumi Movement politicians Category:Politicians from Karachi Category:Year of birth missing (living people)