Raza leaves MQM, joins Kamal

Says Altaf invites Nato, others, but does not come to Pakistan himself; MQM chief is reason enough for leaving the party

KARACHI: A member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Rabita Committee and former Sindh minister Raza Haroon on Monday announced he was joining the newly-formed unnamed party of the former mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, raising the number of dissidents to six.

Since Kamal and Anis Qaimkhani returned to the city, Raza is the fourth person to have quit the MQM in favour of the duo. Mustafa Kamal, while welcoming Haroon into the fold, said that the party’s name would be announced on March 23. Raza, however, quickly told Kamal that “We are here to focus on work. The brand name comes later.”

Responding to the MQM leader’s accusations that loyalties were being forcibly changed, Haroon said MQM chief Altaf Hussain was reason enough for leaving the party, adding that no conspiracy was being hatched against anyone and they didn’t need to resort to force to make people join their party.

In a harsh tone, he said that the party had not been formed for the adulation of one person. “What the MQM leaders are not saying is what I am saying today,” he said.

The former provincial minister said the MQM chief Altaf Hussain invites Nato and others but doesn’t come to Pakistan himself. “When are you coming to Pakistan?” he asked Altaf. He said the MQM once used to be a party of literate people but now it had become a source of humiliation.

With reference to the MQM chief addressing his supporters, Raza Haroon said, “Sometimes we had a happy hour, and then the happy hour became 24 happy hours. These hours then turn to be hours of apologies and these hours are increasing day by day. That is the main cause of frustration for all, especially those sitting in Nine Zero.”

Commenting on the Lahore High Court’s ban on Altaf Hussain’s speeches and portraits, he said it was a blessing in disguise and the ban should continue. The party members, he said, were not approaching the LHC as they themselves did not want the ban to be lifted as they had become tired of their chief’s activities.

“The Mohajirs, who are the true Pakistanis, are being labeled as RAW agents, which is a highly painful thing for the entire community who sacrificed their lives for the nation and not for being treated as third grade citizens.”

It has been a year since the BBC had aired the RAW-funding allegations against the party and its leadership but the party did not approach the court to clarify the allegations, Raza Haroon said, and added that it was the responsibility of the institutions to investigate the allegations against the MQM.

Applauding the steps taken by Kamal and Qaimkhani, he said he had been watching their press conference in London and was thinking that they did the right thing and he saluted their courage, adding that everyone watching the TV was of the same opinion that enough was enough and everyone was fed up with Altaf.