MQMP faces internal rifts over Siddiqui’s becoming minister, Khushbakht’s name for governorship

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQMP) has once again become embroiled in severe internal conflicts, facing two important issues. One of them is the appointment of the governor of Sindh, and the other is the inclusion of party head Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui as a minister in the federal cabinet.

According to party sources, influential circles have finalised the name of Khushbakht Shujaat for the post of governor, a move that is being met with strong reservations from powerful circles within the MQMP. These powerful circles say that no opinion was sought from them regarding the governor’s name, while Khushbakht Shujaat has been inactive for quite some time and has not rendered any significant services to the party.

The differences in the MQMP have intensified at a time when Siddiqui, who is also the head of the party’s ad hoc committee, has taken the oath as federal minister. Party sources say that when the PSP merged into the MQMP and old members, including Farooq Sattar, returned, everyone had unanimously decided that no member or head of the MQMP’s Coordination Committee would hold any government position or ministry. However, Siddiqui’s own swearing-in as a federal minister has exacerbated internal disputes, causing the party to face difficulties once again, with senior party leaders trying to extricate the party from this crisis.