Unified MQM factions hold joint rally at Liaquatabad

KARACHI: Two factions of MQM-Pakistan joined hands on Saturday to flex their political might in a joint rally at Tanki Ground in Karachi's Liaquatabad on Saturday.

The rally comes a week after PPP held a rally at the same ground.

“Despite all the obstacles and challenges, the party's vote bank remains intact. MQM-P vote bank was one yesterday, and it is one today," MQM-PIB Colony leader Dr Farooq Sattar said.

“Today’s rally has proved that MQM believes in politics of non-violence. We had made a promise not to indulge in violence and today we have demonstrated our commitment,” he said.

“PPP held a rally here a few days ago. Instead of healing our wounds, they put salt on them,” he said. 

The veteran politician said that people of Sindh were trapped in a vicious "wheel of cruelty".

"It is not just the Muhajirs, or the Urdu-speaking. It is the people of Sindh, everyone is trapped in this wheel of cruelty and [quota system]."

The PPP has challenged us in our homes, he said. “We had been bowling for the last 10 years and its now our turn to start batting”

Sattar told the crowd that he would not declare those who left the party "traitors" and that more would return to the party than those who left it.

MQM-P Bahadurabad leader Khalid Maqbool thanked the participants and said the people of Liaquatabad had "once again saved the MQM" and that Liaquatabad remains the centre of struggle against dictatorship.

"We [MQM-P] are united.. [we have] one vision, one direction," he asserted.

Slamming the PPP, Maqbool said the opponent party only spread hate in its rally last week.

MQM-P's Amir Khan said he is a Muhajir and will always be a Muhajir. "Sindhi, Balochi, Pakhtuns, all are present today at the rally," he said.