Syed Mustafa Kamal

Early life

Syed Mustafa Kamal was born on 27 December 1971 in Karachi, Pakistan. His parents were Anis Ahmed and Jamila Khatoon who migrated to Pakistan during Partition of India from Delhi. He studied from University of Wales in the United Kingdom. In 1996, Kamal studied at the Sunway College.

Syed Mustafa Kamal is married and has 3 children.

Political career

Ministry of Information Technology

In 2003, Kamal was chosen to be the IT Minister for the Sindh Province. Syed Mustafa Kamal served as the IT Minister for the Sindh province from 2003 to 2005, Afterward Mustufa Kamal was nominated Mayor of Karachi By Altaf Hussain,

Mayor of Karachi

On 7 October 2005, Kamal was chosen as the mayor of Karachi. Kamal was one of the most successful mayor of Karachi. He was named 2nd Best Mayor in the World by Foreign Policy Magazine in 2008 and Finalist in the City Mayors’ Foundation’s World Mayor of the Year Award in 2010.

Senator

In 2012, he was elected to the Pakistani Senate from Sindh. In August 2013, he left the country, he formally resigned on 21 April 2014 from his seat and cited personal obligations behind his resignation.

Corruption Charges, Inquiry & Differences with MQM and departure

Kamal left Pakistan after developing differences with Altaf Hussain of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement announced that Syed Mustafa Kamal submitted his resignation from Senate seat and left Pakistan due to personal and family reasons. Later in Dubai Mustafa Kamal join Malik Riaz's Bahria Town and started managing Bahria Town's construction business from Dubai. In Dubai due to his difference with the party. He formed PSP with Anis Qaimkhani. He after leaving the political party, joined Malik Riaz’s company Bahria Town.

Comeback and formation of Pak Sarzameen Party

After leaving Pakistan in August 2013, he returned from Dubai to Karachi, Pakistan on 3 March 2016, accompanying Anis Kaimkhani and holding a press conference in a rented house in Karachi's posh area at Khayaban e Sahar in Defence Phase 6 Karachi on the same day at 3:00 PM.

In his famous press conference, Mustafa Kamal opened up about his lifelong personal experiences as a prominent member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement and what made him leave the country even when he was serving as a senator at the time. He discussed several controversies surrounding MQM, the leader Altaf Hussain and his behaviour towards the party members.

On 23 March 2016, In the conference, Kamal also disclosed the vision of a new party he is laying foundations of, the name of which is not decided yet. According to him, "Today we are laying the foundation of an organisation, you may call it a party. We are just two individuals, myself and Anis Kaimkhani." Kamal announced the name of party as Pak Sarzameen Party. He also revealed the flag of his party which turned out to be the Flag of Pakistan. He told that the PSP has a flag is not for public. In his support several individual have contacted and showed support and also few more members from MQM joined Mustafa Kamal's team. According to Anees Kaimkhani they will continue to welcome people. Syed Mustafa Kamal disclosed that they will organize a public speech at Bagh-e-Jinnah near Mazar-e-Quaid Karachi. Many people of MQM left it and joined PSP. On 12 January 2023, the Pak Sarzameen Party was dissolved and merged into Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan.

Controversies and cases

China-Cutting Case

The Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) registered an FIR against Kamal and 24 other PSP workers. ACE said that Kamal and 24 others were involved in illegal allotment of 82 acres of amenity land in Mehmoodabad in 2009. The inquiry of ACE was revealed in November 2017 which told that Kamal allotted state land by embezzling his powers. The ACE then questioned Kamal and then Kamal stated that he had allotted in good intentions around 49 acres to the affectees of Lines Area project and the present government could cancel the allotment. Kamal made it clear he had no links with the China-Cutting Case and he was not responsible for what happened in the case.

Illegal Allotment Case

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a reference against Mustafa Kamal pertaining to the alleged illegal allotment of state-owned lands in Clifton, Block 3, near Sea View. According to the NAB's references, The land was allotted to hawkers and shopkeepers in 1980 which was later got by DG Builders on lease in 2005.

Electoral history

General elections 2002

In the 2002 Pakistani general elections, Syed Mustafa Kamal contested for the Provincial Assembly of Sindh seat PS-117 as a candidate of the MQM-L. He secured 37,671 votes and won the seat, becoming a Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh.

After a period of political divergence, Kamal rejoined the MQM-P. He is currently serving as a Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, continuing his political career under the party’s banner.

General elections 2018

Kamal contested the 2018 Pakistan General Election for National Assembly and two Provincial Assemblies however; he failed to make it despite his claim to win the seat. People thought that PSP had ended but Kamal didn't give up hope and he still made a speech after elections saying PSP hasn't ended. Later on in an interview Kamal told the process of the elections and how they were not fair.

Notes

References

References

1. "Mr Syed Mustafa Kamal's Biography". The "I Own Karachi" Campaign website.
2. Team, Meridian International Center. "Syed Mustafa Kamal {{!}} Meridian International Center".
3. "Senate of Pakistan".
4. "Senator Mustafa Kamal has moved abroad because of personal and domestic reasons: Rabta Committee".
5. Desk, Web. (5 August 2015). "Mustafa Kamal ready to reveal important things about Altaf Hussain".
6. "Kamal & Co announce 'Pak Sarzameen Party'".
7. (23 March 2016). "Mustafa Kamal names new political movement 'Pak Sarzameen Party' - The Express Tribune".
8. {{YouTube. ''1JTT6SiRas4''. ''Syed Mustafa Kamal Full Press Conference 3 March 2016''
9. Dawn.com. (2016-03-03). "Mustafa Kamal decimates MQM chief Altaf, announces new political party".
10. (3 March 2016). "Mustafa Kamal launches no-holds-barred tirade against MQM chief - The Express Tribune".
11. "Mustafa Kamal lashes out at Altaf, announces new party".
12. (2018-07-09). "Pak Sarzameen Party welcomes new entrants".
13. (2023-09-27). "MM News".
14. "Mustafa Kamal to record statement in China cutting case on Sept 26 {{!}} Pakistan Today".
15. (2018-10-03). "Mustafa Kamal reaches anti corruption office in illegal land allotment case".
16. "Rs9 bn corruption case: Anti-graft body recommends FIR against Mustafa Kamal, others".
17. Tribune.com.pk. (2019-06-29). "Illegal land allotment case: NAB files reference against Mustafa Kamal".
18. "NAB files reference against Mustafa Kamal in illegal land allotment case {{!}} Pakistan Today".
19. Baloch, Shafi. (2019-06-22). "NAB files reference against Mustafa Kamal in case pertaining to illegal allotment of land".
20. (22 June 2019). "NAB files reference against Mustafa Kamal in illegal land allotment case".
21. (2019-06-22). "'Illegal allotment of land', NAB files reference against Mustafa Kamal".
22. "Provincial Assembly of Sindh - Member Profile".
23. "Syed Mustafa Kamal rejoins MQM-P and assumes key role".
24. "Mustafa Kamal's 'dolphin' fails to swim in Sindh".
25. SAMAA TV. (29 July 2018). "Mustafa Kamal 1st Speech after losing election {{!}} SAMAA TV {{!}} 29 July 2018".