MQM-P reaches out to other parties ahead of APC

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) reached out on Monday to several political parties, including its main rival Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and MQM-Haqiqi, and invited them to its all parties' conference (APC) tomorrow (Tuesday), Geo News reported.

MQM leaders Faisal Subzwari and Amir Khan met MQM-Haqiqi leader Afaq Ahmed in this regard, following which MQM-H chief Afaq Ahmed announced that he would be attending the APC tomorrow.

Earlier, the PSP, formed last year and comprising several former MQM leaders, agreed 'in principle' to attend the conference.  Speaking at a joint press conference at the PSP's office, PSP leader Anis Advocate said: “In principle, we have decided to attend the meeting tomorrow,” and immediately added, “we hope that the MQM-P will hold a clear stance against the traitor of the country tomorrow.”

In a reference to the London-based MQM founder, the PSP representative further said that the province and metropolis will only progress when every individual and political party disassociates from the Ghadar-e-Watan [traitor of the country].

Anis also said that till the name 'MQM' remains in the politics of the city, the London-based MQM founder will continue to get oxygen.  Speaking on the occasion, MQM-P leader Amir Khan reiterated their complete separation from the party's London faction.

Khan said that in the conference, the political leadership of the country will focus on the issues related to local bodies and corruption in the provincial departments.

He added that the party has also invited the local leadership of the Pakistan Peoples' Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and Awami National Party. MQM-P's Faisal Subzwari said that his party aspires to take ahead the minimum common agenda of political parties.

“We won’t do politics of violence, we won’t pursue the politics of Muhajir killer-Muhajir victim,” he said. Meanwhile, MQM's Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui met PPP's Nisar Khuhro and invited him to the multi-party moot.

Khuhro, while speaking to the media, said, "We will get back to the MQM-P leadership on their invitation request after due consultation within the party in 24 hours". Siddqiui, in response to a question, said that other than the MQM-P, no party has disassociated itself from its leadership for the sanctity of the country.

The APC has been organised for August 22, which marks a year's passing since the MQM founder’s controversial anti-state comments in a speech at the Karachi Press Club. Following the incident and subsequent violence, the party disassociated itself from its founder to create its own faction with senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar as its leader. A day after the incident, Sattar had reiterated that the MQM will operate from Pakistan and that all the party's decisions will now be taken by its leadership based in the country.