MQM constitution gives all powers to Rabita Committee, not Altaf Hussain

ISLAMABAD: The MQM’s constitution does not give veto power to any individual, including the party’s disassociated founder Altaf Hussain. Instead, it entrusts the party’s Central Coordination Committee (Rabita Committee) with extraordinary authority to take major policy decisions.

The Muttahida’s constitution even allows the Rabita Committee to amend the constitution and make any change in it with a 2/3rd majority of the total members. The MQM constitution only has one reference of Altaf Hussain in its Article 9(b), which reads as:  “The Central Co-ordination Committee shall seek guidance from Mr Altaf Hussain being the founder and ideologue, on the major issues, if it deems fit for ratification.” The MQM Pakistan under Farooq Sattar has already decided to delete this Article to formally disassociate the party from Altaf Hussain.

Generally, it is said and believed that the party founder Altaf Hussain enjoys unfettered powers to proceed against anyone including party officer bearers. However, the party’s constitution does not envisage any such authority either for Altaf Hussain or any other officer bearer. Even for disciplinary proceedings or to settle intra party dispute, the authority lies with the Rabita Committee.

Article 9(a) of the Muttahida’s constitution refers to the Rabita Committee authority. It says that the Committee shall be the highest policy and decision making organ of the MQM. It adds that the Committee’s decision shall be binding on all party organs and members. Ordinary decision shall be made by a simple majority of the members present in a scheduled meeting. However, in the important and major policy decision 2/3rd majority of the Committee shall be required.

Article 10 of the constitution deals with the authority to amend rules, regulations and the constitution. It says, “No Rules and Regulations or any part of this Constitution shall be rescinded or amended except by a 2/3rd vote of the Committee.” 

Article 15 of the constitution covers disciplinary proceedings for which again all the authority lies with the Rabita Committee. It says, “If the committee feels that a member has violated the declared policy decision, rules and regulations of discipline of the party, a disciplinary action can be taken against that member by issuing him/her a show cause notice to be followed by a hearing to be conducted by members of the Sun-Committee, constituted by the Central Co-ordination Committee. If the said Sub-Committee is dissatisfied with the response of the said member, it shall forward its recommendations to Central Co-ordination Committee for the final decision. In either case the aggrieved member, if he/she so chooses, has right to appeal to the entire committee whose decision on this matter shall be final.”

Article 17 deals with intra-party disputes and says, “If a Party member has any complaint against any office bearer, he or she will submit his or her complaint in writing to the Committee. The Committee thereupon shall constitute a Sub-Committee to investigate, undertake a proper hearing and forward its recommendations to the Committee for final decision. In either case the aggrieved members, if he/she so chooses, has a right to appeal to the entire Committee whose decision on this matter shall be final.”