According to a 7 March 1994 AFP report, the MQM emerged as the second largest group in the PPP-dominated Sindh Assembly in the October 1993 elections. A 14 February 1995 AFP report states that the MQM has demanded "powersharing" with the PPP. Another AFP report states that the MQM and the Pakistani government have held seven rounds of negotiations since July 1995 to discusses the MQM demands (10 Sept. 1995). According to the 14 February 1995 AFP report, "the top leadership of the MQM has been in jail since last May under assorted charges of terrorism, arson and rioting." Yet another AFP report maintains that in September 1995 the MQM boycotted the Sindh Provincial Assembly session demanding the termination of the alleged "excesses" against Mohajir women and the release of MQM Jailed activists (10 Sept. 1995).

The two attached November 1995 Herald articles provide general information on the status of the MQM and its relations with the PPP-dominated Pakistani government.

Other attached articles provide information on a variety of issues pertaining to the MQM and its relations with the Pakistani government. These issues include the arrest of MQM activists (AFP 7 Mar. 1994; ibid. 9 Apr. 1995) and MQM members of the Sindh Assembly (BBC 6 May 1994; AFP 29 Apr. 1995); fighting between police and MQM supporters (AFP 2 May 1994; ibid. 4 May 1994; ibid. 9 Apr. 1995); killing of MQM members (Inter Press Service 18 Aug. 1995; AFP 21, 29 Aug. 1995 and 3 Dec. 1995); and alleged maltreatment by Pakistani security forces of MQM female activists (AFP 10 Sept. 1995).

Sources consulted by the DIRB do not provide information on the current status of APMSO and the treatment of its members by Pakistani authorities and PPP members, nor do they provide information on the treatment by PPP members of MQM members.

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 below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 10 September 1995. "Five Killed as Strike Paralyses Karachi." (NEXIS)

_____. 14 February 1995. "Karachi Violence Claims Another 20 Lives." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 March 1994. "Pakistani Court Orders Arrest of 14 Activities of Ethnic-Based Party." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 3 December 1995. "Strike Paralyses Karachi, Two Die in Pre-Shut Down Violence." (NEXIS)

_____. 10 September 1995. "Five Killed as Strike Paralyses Karachi." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 August 1995. "Important Activist Killed in Karachi." (NEXIS)

_____. 21 August 1995. "Two Police Shot Dead in Karachi in Ambush by Armed Militants." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 April 1995. "Three Killed in Karachi Bomb Explosion, Policeman Shot Dead." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 April 1995. "Death Toll Rises to Eight in Two Days of Violence in Karachi." (NEXIS)

_____. 14 February 1995. "Karachi Violence Claims Another 20 Lives." (NEXIS)

_____. 4 May 1994. "Karachi Ethnic Violence Claims More Causalities." (NEXIS)

_____. 2 May 1994. "Karachi Violence Causes More Casualties, Death Toll Rises to 13." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 March 1994. "Pakistani Court Orders Arrest of 14 Activities of Ethnic-Based Party." (NEXIS)

Herald [Karachi, in English]. November 1995. "Fatal Attrition." (DIRB Indexed Media Review Vol. 10, No. 21, 21-27 November 1995, pp. 103, 103A, 103B)

_____. November 1995. "Return of the Mafias." (DIRB Indexed Media Review Vol. 10, No. 21, 21-27 November 1995, pp. 105, 105A, 105B)

Inter Press Service. 18 August 1995. Beena Sarwar. "Pakistan: Peace in Karachi, but at What Cost?" (NEXIS)

Radio Pakistan [Islamabad, in Urdu]. 5 May 1994. "MQM HQ Raided; Karachi Situation Returning to Normal." (BBC Summary 6 May 1994/NEXIS)

Amnesty International Report 1995. 1995.

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. 1994-95.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1994. 1995.

Far East Economic Review [Hong Kong]. 1994-95.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1994-95.

On-line search of news articles.