Draft:Faheem Farooqi (Commando)
Faheem Commando
[edit]Faheem Farooqi Commando | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 August, 1975 Karachi, Pakistan |
| Died | August 1995 (disputed) Karachi, Pakistan |
| Cause of death | Encounter (gunshot) |
| Allegiance | MQM Militancy |
| Years of service | 1980s-1995 |
| Unit | 173 (North Nazimabad) |
| Known for | Operation Cleanup MQM militancy |
Faheem Ahmed (Urdu: فہیم کمانڈو), widely known by his alias Faheem Commando, was a prominent militant commander and senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) during the 1990s. As a key figure in MQM's armed wing, he was allegedly central to the organization's violent campaigns in Karachi, including targeted killings, extortion, and clashes with rival factions such as MQM-Haqiqi. His activities cemented his reputation as one of the most feared enforcers of MQM's militant era.
Early Life and Background
[edit]Faheem Ahmed adopted the moniker "Commando" due to his tactical role in MQM's paramilitary operations. While details about his birthplace and early years remain scarce, public records tie his rise to MQM's transformation from a political movement into an armed force during Karachi's ethnic and political conflicts in the late 1980s. His notoriety grew alongside MQM's escalating violence, particularly in neighborhoods like Landhi and Korangi, where he allegedly commanded militant cells.
Role in MQM
[edit]Faheem Commando operated as a senior leader of MQM's militant apparatus, which Pakistani authorities accused of orchestrating violence to consolidate the party's control over Karachi. His responsibilities reportedly included organizing armed units, eliminating rivals (especially from the breakaway MQM-Haqiqi faction), and enforcing MQM's authority through extortion networks. Law enforcement documents from the 1990s link him to torture cells, arms smuggling, and the supervision of targeted killings, though independent verification of these claims remains limited.
Allegations of Violence
[edit]Government prosecutors and human rights groups implicated Faheem Commando in extrajudicial executions, including the deaths of political opponents and civilians during Karachi's turf wars. The Sindh High Court listed him as a key suspect in multiple terrorism and murder cases, though he was never formally convicted before his death. Former MQM-Haqiqi members and security officials have described him as a "ruthless enforcer" who operated with impunity during MQM's peak influence.
Death and Aftermath
[edit]Faheem Commando was killed in a 1995 police encounter in Karachi, which some human rights organizations labeled as an extrajudicial execution. His death coincided with Pakistan's military-led "Operation Clean-up" against MQM's militant networks. [1]While MQM-Altaf faction members initially hailed him as a "martyr," his legacy remains contentious. Critics view him as a symbol of Karachi's darkest era of political violence, while former associates frame his actions as a defensive struggle against state repression.
See Also
[edit]- ^ "Karachi's cops celebrated for faking it till they make it". The Friday Times. 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2025-03-27.