Back on track? MQM-London forms zonal committee in Hyderabad

Supporters pay homage to deceased party workers

HYDERABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-London has constituted an 11-member zonal committee for Hyderabad, in what appears to be consistent efforts of the party's exiled leadership to get back on their feet.

Led by Rabita Committee's member Momin Khan Momin, a number of MQM founder Altaf Hussain's supporters also converged at a graveyard in Pucca Qila on Saturday to pay homage to deceased workers of the party.

"We are sons of the founders of Pakistan,” said Momin, while speaking to the media. “Pakistan lives in every drop of our blood. No one has the right to question us whether we are Pakistanis or not." He asserted that the party is united under Altaf.

Earlier on Friday evening, Momin announced names of the zonal committee members at a party meeting at the residence of Zafar Rajput, the chairman of a union committee of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and former Naib Nazim of Hyderabad.

Among the members, Javed Khan, Amir Iqbal Khanzada, Abid Ghori and Rasheed Khan were part of the zonal committee, which was dissolved following the August 22 speech of Altaf. The new members include Zafar Rajput, Faheem Baig, Ahsan Warsi, Shujaat Nagarh, Fauzia Khan, Rizwana Aslam and Farzana Anwari besides the four original committee members.

Momin said the MQM's self-exiled leaders in London have approved all the names. The party's Hyderabad zonal office at Bhai Khan Charhi was sealed following Altaf's speech. The newly-formed committee is likely to start work in a new office while making efforts to get the party office unsealed.

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