MQM-P demands Shahid Pasha’s immediate release

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Sunday demanded the immediate release of party leader Shahid Pasha while expressing concern over the raids by law-enforcement agencies at the homes of other party workers.

While presiding over an MQM-P coordination committee meeting held at the party headquarters in Bahadurabad, party chief Farooq Sattar also discussed with the committee members the national political situation after the recently-announced Supreme Court verdict in the Imran Khan and Jehangir Tareen disqualification case.

Earlier this week, a three-judge bench of the SC cleared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Khan, while disqualifying the party’s general secretary, Tareen, for life in the verdict for the petitions filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Hanif Abbasi against non-disclosure of their assets and ownership of off-shore companies by Khan and Tareen.

MQM-P leaders on Sunday expressed their apprehensions to Sattar over the arrest of Pasha, the party’s deputy convener, and raids at the houses of party workers after the December 9 Youm-e-Shuhada event, a source told The News.

Pasha was allegedly taken into custody, again, on December 15 from Stadium Road when he was heading home from the party office. The coordination committee members emphasised the role of the colleague(s) who hold the responsibility of communicating with the establishment on behalf of the party on different matters, the source said, adding that they were urged to successfully mediate for Pasha’s immediate recovery.

On the political situation post the Khan-Tareen verdict, the meeting discussed the formal and informal alliance possibilities with other political parties in the upcoming general elections, keeping in view the possible outcome and their feasibility, the source said.

According to him, Dr Tahir-ul Qadri, the chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, phoned Sattar, assuring him of his support for the party’s August 23, 2016 stance in return of a momentous campaign on Lahore’s Model Town incident, whose judicial report was released last week. In other words, a campaign against the ruling PML-N.

The MQM-P informally supports PML-N, among others, in the current political landscape while expecting fulfilment of its demands such as development packages for Karachi and Hyderabad before the election. But it is also pondering offers from other parties.

Spokesperson Aminul Haque told The News that MQM-P appreciates the federal government’s funds for development in Karachi and stands with its day one demand of a fair investigation and prosecution of the Model Town tragedy.

Without being specific about the subject of what was discussed, he said that the meeting reviewed the changing political scenario and discussed a strategy for its possible outcomes. “MQM-P is focusing on its political campaign and in Sindh, and for now thinks that it will contest election on its own… without any alliance,” he said, adding that it is, however, keeping the option of seat adjustment open.