At odds: Our lawmakers will not resign, says MQM leader

Nadeem Nusrat had asked MPAs to quit after anti-Altaf resolution in Sindh Assembly

KARACHI: The two distinct factions of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – one run by its leadership in Pakistan and the other by a clique based in London – are engulfed in a fresh bout of infighting after the majority of MQM lawmakers refused to heed the call to resign on Thursday.

On Wednesday, coordination committee convener Nadeem Nusrat strongly criticised the members of the Sindh Assembly belonging to the MQM for tabling a resolution against MQM supremo Altaf Hussain, which called for his trial under Article 6 of the Constitution.

He told parliamentarians belonging to the MQM that it was their moral obligation that they should tender their resignations.



Speaking to the media outside the Sindh Assembly, MPA Faisal Sabzwari said, “it is highly unlikely that any MQM office-bearer or lawmaker here will pay heed to the announcement of Mr Nusrat, who along with London-based Wasay Jalil, Mustafa Azizabadi and Qasim Ali Raza, was sacked from the coordination committee by Dr Sattar-led MQM.”

Sabzwari said the August 22 mandate was never given to them. “Had elections been held after Altaf’s incendiary speech of August 22, our voters would have hit us with shoes.”

However, Sufyan Yusuf became the first lawmaker to quit the MQM-Pakistan. He announced he would tender his resignation from the National Assembly shortly.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2016.