Dr Saghee­r Ahmed ends 28-year-long associ­ation with MQM, joins Mustafa Kamal

The former provincial health minister also resigns from Sindh Assembly

KARACHI: Former Sindh health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed on Monday announced his decision to join the newly-formed political party of Syed Mustafa Kamal.

"I have come here today to join Mustafa Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani for the development of Pakistan," Dr Sagheer, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA in the Sindh Assembly said while addressing media at the former Karachi mayor's residence in the city.

In August 2014, the party's Rabita Committee removed Dr Sagheer Ahmed from the panel, to "give him more time to address the health issues of  the province".

The announcement comes days after Kamal blew the whistle on MQM supremo Altaf Hussain in a dramatic two-hour-long press conference last week.

Kamal — who won wide support as mayor of Karachi from 2005 to 2010 for his efforts to ease traffic and improve public services — levelled blistering criticism at Altaf’s ‘strong-arm tactics’ and accused him of working for India’s premier spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).



"I have seen this city being destroyed and deteriorated, and Kamal and Kaimkhani have provided me with an opportunity to stand up for a change," Dr Sagheer said. "I think I need to play a clear and constructive role as a Karachiite and a dweller of this city."

It is worth mentioning that two days ago, the MQM chief had taken an oath of loyalty from all party leaders, and Dr Sagheer was also among them.

PHOTO: PPI

"I couldn’t hold myself back from joining these two people. They have spoken the hearts of the people. I have never been in contact with any of them since they left the party," the former Sindh health minister continued.



“We gave everything to the party but what did we get in return? Morpine injections, alcohol addiction and lewd speeches?” he questioned.

He claimed no worker of the MQM or the Urdu-speaking community was working against the country, urging those at the helm of affairs to bring them in the mainstream politics.

"I have always disagreed with the exploitation of common workers of the party," he added. "I could not continue to see exploitation of workers and violence with the community."

The former Sindh health minister said he pleaded several times to the MQM chief to stop the politics of killing people but to no avail.

“The politics of strikes devastated the country’s economy," he said. “Today everyone knows about Altaf’s links with RAW. I don’t want to say anything to any MQM member but I request Altaf to stop having innocent people killed."

Resignation from Sindh Assembly

Dr Sagheer, who was elected from Karachi's PS-117 constituency in the May 2013 general elections, also announced his decision to resign from the Sindh Assembly.

"I apologise to my voters because I failed to serve them and announce to resign from my post as MPA," he said, while ending his 28-year-long association with the MQM.



Meanwhile, Kaimkhani, who made the sudden return to Karachi with Kamal, has promised to break his silence soon.

“I am keeping quiet for a certain reason,” he had told The Express Tribune in an interview on Saturday afternoon.

Kaimkhani was associated with the MQM for nearly 30 years before he left the country in October 2013.

Earlier on Monday, PTI leader Faisal Vawda spoke to Kamal over the phone, Express News reported.

Both leaders expressed their resolve to work together to end terrorism and corruption from the city.

MQM denies links with foreign secret agencies

Meanwhile, the MQM has termed the developments a conspiracy to “eliminate and divide the MQM”.

In a statement, party spokesperson said there were a number of attempts to create new groups in the party since the beginning.

“Negative, baseless and poisonous propaganda is being carried out to defame the MQM,” the statement said.

Conspiring elements are trying to sideline Altaf from the political scenario, the spokesperson said, adding the party denies the allegations of having connections with any foreign secret agency.