Information on formalities and the conditions of membership in the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization (APMSO) could not be found among the sources currently available to the IRBDC in Ottawa.

Concerning the past activities of APMSO and its relationship with the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Mohajir Student Federation, please refer to the IRBDC's Mohajirs of Pakistan: Issue Paper (Sept. 1990) and the attached articles.

APMSO was founded at Karachi University in 1978 by Altaf Hussein and several colleagues, who also created the Mohajir Student Federation (MSF) in the 1970's (IRBDC Sept. 1990, 6). APMSO is described as the youth wing of the MQM (AFP 1 June 1992). From 1988 to 1990, in Karachi and Islamabad, there were reports of armed clashes between supporters of APMSO and other students groups such as the People's Student Federation, which belong to the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), and the Islami Jamiat-I-Tulba (Xinhua 8 Apr. 1990; ibid. 8 Dec. 1989; ibid. 9 Sept. 1988). In June 1992 APMSO joint secretary Shahood Hashmi was arrested by security forces during the "Operation Clean-Up," along with two other activists (AFP 1 June 1992).

According to the director of the Centre for International Studies at Georgia Southern University, APMSO is powerful and active in Karachi, especially at the Karachi University (11 Mars 1994). Very popular among professionals and university and college students, APMSO has several thousand members (ibid.). Since APMSO members are very active in politics, the source stated that harassment of APMSO members by the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is a possibility (ibid.).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find attached the list of sources consulted in researching this information request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 June 1992. "Pakistan Army Chief Discusses Sindh Operation." (IRBDC Indexed Media Review [Ottawa] 16 May-01 June 1992, Vol 3, No. 22)

Centre for International Studies, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro. 11 March 1994. Telephone interview with director.

Immigration and refugee Board Documentation Centre (IRBDC), Ottawa. September 1993. The Mohajirs of Pakistan: Issue Paper.

Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 8 April 1990. "18 Killed in New Round of Violence in Karachi, Pakistan." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 December 1989. "Armed Clash Between Rival Students Closes Hospital in Karachi." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 September 1988. "Clashes Continue Between University Rival Students in Karachi." (NEXIS)

Angel, William D. 1990. Youth Movements of the World. London: Longman Group UK Ltd.

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Ca]. Monthly.

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. Weekly.

Far Eastern Economic Review [Hong Kong]. Weekly.

The Herald Annual [Karachi]. Monthly.

Pacific Affairs [Vancouver]. Quarterly.

On-line search and oral sources.