MQMP dissolved, merger with PSP to get fresh manifesto, symbol
Leaders of PSP and MQMP addressed a joint press conference in Karachi today
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) Dr Farooq Sattar has decided to dissolve the political front on Wednesday to merge into Mustafa Kamal-led Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) to avoid division of vote bank in General Elections 2018.
Leaders of PSP and MQMP, Mustafa Kamal and Dr Farooq Sattar addressed a joint press conference in Karachi today and laid bare details of the decision.
While talking to the media, Dr Sattar said that the key purpose of the dissolution is to check the division of vote bank of both the parties in Sindh for the best interest of the people. Policies that aim to curb violence and restore peace are to be stressed in the province, he said.
MQMP chief said that talks were underway between the two parties for quite some time to solve the issues faced by the people through a political merger. Dr Sattar said that Karachi cannot endure another situation like the one that arose in the 1990s.
He said that neither of the two merging parties want their workers to enter any clashes or tensions owing to the development today.
Dr Sattar thanked the people of Karachi and Sindh for making the rally on Sunday earlier this week a huge success. It is the responsibility of a statesman to avenge partial attitude towards Mohajirs.
MQMP chief said that the approach to dissolve the political party is not temporary.
While talking to the media, PSP chief Mustafa Kamal cleared that both the parties would contest General Elections 2018 with one political front, one electoral symbol and as one force.
Kamal said that Muttahida Qaumi Movement belongs to the founder of the party ever since its conception which is why a neutral and a fresh identity is needed.
He looked down upon the idea of conducting politics for Mohajirs as according to him this repulses the people reisiding in Sindh who belong to Punjabi, Balochistan and all those who are not Mohajirs.
PSP chief said that he had conducted long discussions with MQMP members for the past six months over the course-of-strategy the joint front would adopt. Kamal said that he cannot thank his party workers, central committee and core members enough as they have not one ambiguity in their minds about what the joint political front wants to achieve.
Dissidence
A leader of MQMP and Member of National Assembly (MNA) Ali Raza Abidi has announced to resign as part of the political party in reaction to the merger announced by Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal.
He announced to part ways with MQMP in a message posted on Twitter:
Ladies n Gentlemen from the Holy land of Karbala, I announce to quit MQMP n resign from NA251 as this is not what I believed in n stood for.
— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) November 8, 2017
During a meeting of MQMP ahead of the press conference at Karachi Press Club, one of the participants, Shabbir Qaimkhani voiced his dissidence with the merger and demonstrated walk-out in the room.
In a brief media talk, Qaimkhani said that there is no reason to merge MQMP with PSP.
Dr Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal convene separate meetings
MQMP chief and Mustafa Kamal convened separate meetings with top brass of individual parties before addressing the joint press conference.
Upon arrival for the meeting, Dr Sattar said that the party leadership wishes to serve the people of the province in a better way. He said that members of MQMP reserve a political ideology and that the party stands for a movement.
PSP chief Mustafa Kamal was thrown questions at by media personnel to which he responded by saying that the lawmakers would lay bare details of the meeting in a shortwhile.
Kamal vowed that all the struggle and efforts being put up were for the nation and the country.
Both Dr Sattar and PSP chief did not indulge themselves in a formal media talk ahead of the meeting and took up questions as they moved inside.
Reportedly, Shabbir Qaimkhani of MQMP has demonstrated a walk-out in the party meeting voicing disagreement over alliance proposal. In a brief media talk, Shabbir Qaimkhani said that there is no reason to join hands with PSP. If this was to be done at some point, the leadership could have done it way earlier.
Dr Sattar had left for Karachi Press Club to address the press conference after chairing an MQMP meeting for over two hours.
Musharraf lauds development
Former army chief and chief of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), Pervez Musharraf welcomed the merger between the two parties.
In a statement given in this regard, Musharraf offered to lead a political alliance among PSP and MQM In Sindh.
