MQM London leadership dissolves Rabita Committee after SA resolution calls for Altaf trial

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement's self-exiled leadership on Wednesday dissolved Rabita Committee and organizational setup, hours after the party's lawmakers in Sindh Assembly presented a resolution along with other parties calling for trial of Altaf Hussain under article 6 of the Constitution for his August 22 speech. 

A statement issued from London by senior MQM leader Nadeem Nusrat said "presenting a resolution and calling for a treason case under article 6 against the MQM founder by the party's members of parliament is shameful". 

The statement said that Nusrat has been granted powers to appoint new Rabita Committee. “MQM was one and will remain as one. Conspiracies to eliminate MQM will not succeed”, he added.

Demand for trying MQM founder Altaf Hussain under article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan echoed in Sindh Assembly when ruling and opposition parties including MQM Pakistan itself presented resolutions against him.

The resolutions against MQM founder were presented separately by MQM leader Sardar Ahmed, PPP MPA Khairunnisa Mughal, PML-F Nusrat Sahar Abbasi and PTI’s Khurrum Sher Zaman.

The identical resolutions submitted by major parties stated: “This House condemns in strongest words the anti-state speech made by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on August 22, anti-state slogans of his supporters and inciting violence against specific Media Houses. This House demands from Government of Pakistan to try MQM chief and his supporters involved under Article 6 of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.

Leaders of all the parties also expressed solidarity with military, judiciary, media and other state institutions.