MQM-London accuses Pakistan chapter of ‘hijacking’ the party

LONDON: Division and infighting within the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has taken a new turn as the London-based leadership has launched a scathing attack on MQM-Pakistan for “attempting to hijack the party to keep intact a luxury lifestyle instead of standing up to authorities and rendering sacrifices”.

MQM-London’s Convener Nadeem Nusrat said at a press conference here at the International Secretariat that his former colleagues – mainly Farooq Sattar, Khawaja Izhar, Faisal Subzwari, Waseem Akhtar, Arshad Vohra and others – had committed treason by disowning founder of the party after Hussain’s 22nd August speech in which he had chanted slogans against Pakistan.

Nadeem Nusrat conceded that the MQM has formally split but he said that it was part of the “minus Altaf formula” which had been aided with help from inside the MQM.

He said that MQM’s Pakistan leaders were supposed to defend Altaf Hussain after the 22nd August speech but “it’s clear that they made secret deals in order to keep hold of their positions, protocol cars and access to salaries they draw”.

He termed the MQM-Pakistan leaders as “hijackers” who had “back-stabbed” their own leader who founded the party and gave rights and voice to the people of Karachi. 

“We remained silent for over two months and didn’t want to do anything to damage unity of the MQM but our Karachi chapter started bringing resolutions against Altaf Hussain and denounced him in most vicious terms. We were expelled from the party. Anyone who supported Altaf was also expelled from the party. They provoked us non-stop and have left us with no choice but to shun them for their treachery. They are trying to hijack the party but we will not let them succeed. A bus driver cannot claim to be the owner of the bus. The MQM may be registered in the name of Farooq Sattar but that doesn’t mean that he is the leader of the party. It's only Altaf,” he said.

Nadeem Nusrat said that recently PTI leader and KP chief minister Pervaiz Khattak chanted slogans against Pakistan and Imran Khan owned him fully but the MQM-Pakistan didn’t do so in the case of Altaf Hussain.

He said that Imran Khan held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khattak chanted anti-Pakistan slogans but there has been no hue and cry in Pakistan but all hell broke loose when Altaf Hussain made controversial remarks. He said that double standards must not be applied on the MQM and out of proportion criticism of the MQM is uncalled for.

Nadeem Nusrat said that “some elements” in the establishment were focused on damaging MQM while ignoring threats to national security and the country from banned extremist and terrorist groups who have attacked one after another installation in Pakistan.

He said that Mustafa Kamal was launched as part of the minus-Altaf formula. He appealed to the authorities not to push MQM towards the wall and not support an element to divide the MQM further.

Referring to the skirmishes between the two groups of the MQM on the day when Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar was released, Nadeem Nusrat said that such incidents will happen because people don’t like minus-Altaf formula.