KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the arrest of its Rabita Committee member Gulfraz Khattak and others, hinting at resignations from the assemblies.
Speaking at a press conference here, Dr. Farooq Sattar said the law enforcers today arrested the party leader who had disowned the August 22 speech of the MQM founder. He questioned that how could a leader be declared wanted all of a sudden, who was not nominated in any case in the past.
"Khattak is alleged of provoking party activists and facilitating the inflammatory speech," he said.
Sattar demanded the authorities to arrest him along with other Rabita Committee members nominated in August 22 FIR. He offered to present himself along with all of the 1950 people nominated in the FIR.
"Do not arrest me from my residence or somewhere else," the MQM Pakistan chief said, adding that we are ready to present ourselves in the premises of Sindh High Court (SHC).
"Do not arrest one by one. Take us all together," he added.
Farooq Sattar reiterated that he and his affiliates had parted ways from London and requested to not link them to August 22 episode.
"Despite yesterday's presser by the London chapter of the MQM, 26 town organisers are standing with us. The UCs and district chairmen too are here," noting that the MQM Pakistan retains the support of party activists and the people of Karachi.
'Option to resign'
"We have the option to resign and if we did so, we would resign from all the assemblies," the MQM lawmaker said. "Yet, MQM Pakistan would do, when it deemed necessary."
He warned that if we resigned then we would quit the entire political process and then the future of the Mohajir community would be resting with the Almighty.
Sattar urged PM Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and other to not just warmly shake hands with them, but do something practical as well.
Earlier in the day, MQM Pakistan Rabita Committee member Gulfraz Khattak was arrested in Karachi. He was apprehended from outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC) here.