'PSP has done what the Rangers' operation couldn't'

Party welcomes on board 1,968 new workers in its 'biggest' joining


Our Correspondent September 24, 2017
Kamal has demanded the federal government and interior minister take down the website and social media accounts of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – London (MQM). PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: In an apparent reference to his bid to fill the political vacuum left after Altaf Hussain's and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) power in the city diminished, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairperson Mustafa Kamal has said that in a short span of time his party has achieved what the Rangers' targeted operation in Karachi could not.

Addressing on Saturday a press conference at PSP headquarters Pakistan House, Kamal said that the authorities restored peace in the city through the paramilitary force's operation but could not turn the hearts of MQM founder's followers away from him.

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"The credit goes to PSP for the fact that today, Altaf makes calls from London but no one adheres to them," Kamal said. "Thus, we have played a major role in sustaining long-lasting peace in the city."

The presser was called to mark the occasion of the party's ' biggest' joining, in which 1,968 workers of various parties joined the PSP. Similar to the previous strength of the party, the new companions of Kamal are mostly - 919 - from the MQM and they, the party claims, are convinced by the PSP's ideology.

According to the data shared by the party, among the 919 people who have joined from the MQM, two were former central cabinet members, 21 sector members, 43 unit incharges, 32 joint unit incharges, 48 unit committee members, three union council chairmen, six general councilors and the rest were workers.

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Meanwhile, 97 workers are from the Pakistan Peoples Party, 55 from Muhajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi, 37 from Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, 24 from Sunni Tehreek, 22 from Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, 15 from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, 13 from Jamaat-e-Islami, nine from the All Pakistan Muslim League, six from Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid, four from Awami National Party and two from the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, the data reads.

However, the second largest pool of workers, 765, is said to be composed of those who were previously not associated with any political party.

Kamal said that such a large joining of workers in PSP, which is a one-and-a-half-year-old party, depicts its momentum towards progress.

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"Those who hurled taunts at us and questioned how we would be able to come out of our houses should see that today we are everywhere, from Karachi to Kashmore," he said, taking a jibe at rivals.

Commenting on the allegations that PSP was forcing MQM workers to join the party, he said that not a single worker was pressured and all of them joined PSP voluntarily after being convinced with the political approach of the party.

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