Sattar asks MQM factions and PSP to enter into alliance before elections

Dr Farooq Sattar, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movemen-Pakistan’s PIB Colony group, has said his party will unite the Muhajirs in the General Election 2018, foiling any designs to keep them apart.

Speaking to a public meeting in Landhi on Thursday, he asked Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of the Bahadurabad group of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Mustafa Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani of the Pak Sarzameen Party, Afaq Ahmed of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi and Saleem Haider of the Muhajir Ittehad Tehreek to make an alliance to keep the vote bank of the Urdu-speaking community intact.

“We will thwart the attempts that intend to divide the Muhajirs’ vote bank by putting them in different groups,” he said, referring to the crisis that MQM-P has been going through since the split between the PIB Colony and Bahadurabad groups in February.

Talking about the reason for the infighting, he said there was only one leader in a party, not many. He cited that the discord was about the powers with the leader and his/her decision. “We need to revive merit in the party.”

Sattar said his party was not only the hope of the Muhajirs but of all ethnic groups that had been deprived of their due rights. “We believe that the MQM-P is the assurance of a bright future of Pakistan,” he added.

The MQM-P was the only party that could end the traditional feudal system in the country and bring in real democracy, Sattar claimed, saying that on August 22, 2016, he and likeminded people prevented the party from falling apart.

Abidi’s request

MNA Ali Raza Abidi, who has sided with Sattar following the split, asked the MQM-P local bodies’ elected representatives and workers to remain united and continue with their duties in their areas.

“This is a matter between elders and they, hopefully, will solve it soon,” he said in a video message. “We know how to tackle the issues,” he added, hinting at the reunion talks under way between the leaders of the PIB Colony and Bahadurabad groups.