Farooq Sattar

Early life and education

Sattar was born on 9 April 1959. He graduated from Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi in 1986.

Political career

Sattar begun his political career in 1979 after joining then newly formed student body All Pakistan Muttahidda Students Organization Sattar remained one of its active members until 1986. APMSO later a precursor to Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

In 1987, Sattar was made the Mayor of Karachi by the MQM at the age of 28, reportedly, making him the youngest mayor in the world at that time. He served there until 1992.

Sattar was elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the first time in Pakistani general election, 1988 on the ticket on MQM from Karachi's south constituency.

Sattar was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the second time in Pakistani general election, 1990 on the ticket on MQM from Karachi's south constituency.

Sattar was elected as the member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh for the first time in Pakistani general election, 1993 on the ticket on MQM from Karachi's south constituency. In 1993, he didn't run for National Assembly seat because MQM boycotted the National Assembly elections. Sattar was appointed by MQM as the Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

In 1994, Sattar was arrested after a crackdowns took place against MQM and was reportedly released in 1997.

Sattar was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the third time in Pakistani general election, 1997 on the ticket on MQM from Karachi's south constituency. He was also re-elected as the member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh for the second time in Pakistani general election, 1997 on the ticket on MQM from Karachi's south constituency. He vacated his National Assembly seat to retain his winning provincial seat. Sattar was inducted into provincial cabinet and was appointed as the provincial minister.

In 1999, Sattar was arrested over corruption charges soon after the 1999 Pakistani coup d'état in which then Chief of Army Staff, Pervez Musharraf, overthrew elected government of Pakistan. He was released in 2001 after two years in jail. Sattar was facing trial several cases in different session courts in Karachi.

Sattar didn't ran for National Assembly seat in Pakistani general election, 2002 for unknown reasons, however he was nominated by MQM to ran in 2002 Pakistan by-elections which were held in 2003 and he was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the third time from Karachi's south constituency. The seat was become vacant after the death of MNA Mehmood Qureshi.

Sattar was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the fourth time in Pakistani general election, 2008 on the ticket on MQM from Karachi's south constituency. Pakistan Peoples Party however alleged that there was rigging in the constituency and accused MQM and Sattar for manipulating the final results. Sattar was inducted into federal cabinet and served as the Federal Minister for overseas Pakistanis from 2008 until his resignation in 2010.

Sattar was re-elected as the member of the National Assembly of Pakistan for the fifth time in Pakistani general election, 2013 on the ticket on MQM from Karachi's south constituency.

Sattar has been the senior deputy convener of the MQM and its parliamentary leader in the National Assembly. In 2008, He was a candidate for Prime Minister of Pakistan. He also served as chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the National Assembly during Pervez Musharrafs rule.

MQM Pakistan

In 2016, Sattar was charged for listening to, organising, and facilitating a speech by Altaf Hussain against the military and security agencies of Pakistan.

In August, 2016, after the MQM workers attacked on ARY TV office in Karachi on the call of Altaf Hussain, Sattar was taken into custody by Sindh Rangers while he was trying to address the media in connection to the attack on ARY News office. He was released in few hours. An Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Sattar for hate speech case.

Later, Sattar disassociated with London-based leader of MQM Altaf Hussain saying that MQM will only operate from within Pakistan. He changed the constitution of MQM to incorporate himself as the new chief saying that "MQM is Pakistan. The MQM is registered in Pakistan and recognises the laws and Constitution of Pakistan. The party should operate from Pakistan alone." Dawn reported that MQM was registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan in the name of Sattar. Sattar appointed himself as the convener of the coordination committee of MQM.

Following which MQM’s London-based leadership expelled Sattar from the party for betraying and asked him to resigned from National Assembly which he won on MQM ticket and re-contest the elections afresh. However, Sattar and parliamentarians part of his faction didn't resigned from their respective parliaments.

In February 2017, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan instructed the authorities to put the name of Sattar on the Exit Control List, after Sattar was charged with facilitation of hate speech but police failed to produce the Sattar in court hearings. In March 2017, he was briefly arrested on charges of hate speech case and was released later.