Ex-MNA Anis Ahmed Advocate joins Mustafa Kamal

KARACHI: Another sidelined leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and an ex-Member of the National Assembly on Monday ended his 32-year association with Altaf Hussain and joined Mustafa Kamal.

Announcing his decision to join Kamal’s party at Kamal House, Anis Ahmed Advocate, who was sacked from the party over misconduct, had a difference of opinion with regard to Altaf Hussain’s links with RAW. He also said that Altaf Hussain was now not fit to run the party.

Anis, who had been out of the scene for almost three years, said to have arrived in the city last week and was expected to announce his joining Mustafa Kamal on Thursday, but due to some unknown reasons, the press conference was postponed in haste.

Talking to the media, he said he was ready to join Kamal’s party three years ago as he was convinced that time would come when people would break their silence and speak about the May 19, 2013 episode when some Muttahida leaders had been allegedly manhandled by the workers. 

“That was the end of the party,” said Anis Ahmed. “I left the MQM on May 19, 2013, and I was among those who believed that the MQM was on the wrong track. I had said this was the final nail in the coffin. You (Altaf Hussain) have devastated your party,” said Anis Advocate.

Anis Ahmed said he wished Altaf to live long enough to see that the foundation had crumbled.  Anis said he was ready to face punishment for his sins. He urged Altaf Hussain to face his workers and supporters who sacrificed their lives, family and everything for him and were fighting with the army without caring that they were fighting their own army because their chief had asked them to do so.

“We were the ones who wiped your tears, shined your shoes and wiped your brow and stood side by side with you, but what have we been given in return,” he asked. “I had warned you to read the situation, but now all is over,” he said.

“Let the Mohajir community decide their own fate. You (Altaf) are in a very poor condition and cannot lead the Mohajir community any longer. You have lost the support and trust of the community,” he said. 

In reply to a question, he said he had not been beaten up on May 19, but those who were beaten up are tweeting today. Meanwhile, Anis Qaimkhani in a message to the government asked it to forgive the children of Karachi and have some mercy on them.

“Forgive them the way you have forgiven the children of Fata and Balochistan. Give them amnesty to go back to their families.” He dispelled the rumours that they were “Haqiqi Part 2” and had links with the establishment. With regard to the massive gathering at the MQM’s foundation day, Mustafa Kamal asked the reporters whether anyone would have been able to sit in the MQM’s foundation day celebration if his party had been backed by the establishment.