MQM-P officially launches nationwide campaign
Dr Farooq Sattar reverts decision to withdraw candidature
MQM-P leader after offering prayers at a mosque in Karachi. PHOTO: MQM-P Official
KARACHI:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) officially launched its election campaign in Karachi on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference at the party's Bahadurabad office, MQM-P's convener, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, assured the gathered crowd of supporters and party office-bearers that they would obtain the mandate of all the areas of urban Sindh, including Karachi.
"The MQM will keep working for [the resolution of] public issues while adopting a non-violent policy," he said, adding that the occasion marked the launch of the party's election campaign across the country. Dr Siddiqui was flanked by the party's deputy convener Amir Khan, Dr Farooq Sattar, members of its coordination committee, relatives of deceased workers and candidates.
"The journey that started with Mohajir Qaumi Movement and became Muttahida Qaumi Movement, now comprises people of all languages, tribes, nationalities and religions, along with Urdu language speakers," he said. "The victory of MQM-P will be the victory of people of all languages."
Shehla Raza, Rauf Siddiqui, Ali Raza Abidi submit party tickets
Dr Siddiqui decried that their workers were subjected to killings during the Karachi Operation and imprisoned. "MQM was subjected to conspiracies and negative propaganda. Our offices were sealed but the MQM's mandate despite this oppression is powerful and stable," he asserted.
The party chief added that they went to the streets to carry out their duties and win elections. The mandate was still with the party, he said.
"I want to tell those negative people and opponents who are still involved in stupid activities that the MQM-P has not been divided," he remarked, pledging to move forward with the party manifesto in a peaceful manner while adopting a non-violent approach.
"Many big politicians are fighting elections on the basis of our politics today. Our vote bank is still intact," he said.
Speaking about the candidates fielded by the party, Dr Siddiqui said that nine of them belonged to the families of deceased MQM-P workers. He said that there were two "martyrs" from the house of Tehseen Abidi, while one "martyr" each from the homes of Muhammad Hussain, Zahid Mansoori, Haroon Siddiqui, Sadaqat Hussain and Alia Kamran. He added that the husbands of both Rabia and Farah Sohail had been killed.
The MQM-P convener ended his speech expressing gratitude for being able to contest the elections "with unity and God-willing, we will be victorious."
Dr Sattar is back
In a press conference outside his PIB Colony residence earlier in the day, Dr Sattar announced he would contest the upcoming elections, after his request to withdraw his candidature was rejected by the party's coordination committee and Dr Siddiqui. Dr Sattar will contest the elections from NA-245 and NA-247 on the MQM-P's ticket.
Dr Sattar's announcement came after MQM-P's deputy convener Amir Khan and Faisal Subzwari visited his home in PIB Colony to deliver a message from the party chief and persuade Dr Sattar to revisit his earlier decision to withdraw his candidature.
Appeals of Farooq Sattar, Fehmida Mirza, Wasim Aftab approved
Addressing a joint press conference after the visit, Dr Sattar said that the final list of candidates for the elections had been completed. He recalled he had told Amir Khan and Siddiqui that, "Since our main purpose was to keep our unity intact after the separation of four months, I would help the party win the elections by going from door to door to ask for votes, instead of contesting them." He added, however, that it was the decision of the coordination committee that he should contest the elections from two seats.
"I did not go to Bahadarabad to ask for a ticket; rather, the MQM needs me," said Dr Sattar, adding that Subzwari and Khan had come to his house to dispel the notion that he had demanded the tickets.
"The party has decided that Sattar is an experienced parliamentarian and we need him. This is why we have rejected Dr Sattar's stance and have asked him to contest the elections," said Subzwari.
In response to a question why a seemingly weak candidate was fielded against the Pak Sarzameen Party's Mustafa Kamal, Amir Khan quipped that the candidate was selected based on Kamal's stature.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) officially launched its election campaign in Karachi on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference at the party's Bahadurabad office, MQM-P's convener, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, assured the gathered crowd of supporters and party office-bearers that they would obtain the mandate of all the areas of urban Sindh, including Karachi.
"The MQM will keep working for [the resolution of] public issues while adopting a non-violent policy," he said, adding that the occasion marked the launch of the party's election campaign across the country. Dr Siddiqui was flanked by the party's deputy convener Amir Khan, Dr Farooq Sattar, members of its coordination committee, relatives of deceased workers and candidates.
"The journey that started with Mohajir Qaumi Movement and became Muttahida Qaumi Movement, now comprises people of all languages, tribes, nationalities and religions, along with Urdu language speakers," he said. "The victory of MQM-P will be the victory of people of all languages."
Shehla Raza, Rauf Siddiqui, Ali Raza Abidi submit party tickets
Dr Siddiqui decried that their workers were subjected to killings during the Karachi Operation and imprisoned. "MQM was subjected to conspiracies and negative propaganda. Our offices were sealed but the MQM's mandate despite this oppression is powerful and stable," he asserted.
The party chief added that they went to the streets to carry out their duties and win elections. The mandate was still with the party, he said.
"I want to tell those negative people and opponents who are still involved in stupid activities that the MQM-P has not been divided," he remarked, pledging to move forward with the party manifesto in a peaceful manner while adopting a non-violent approach.
"Many big politicians are fighting elections on the basis of our politics today. Our vote bank is still intact," he said.
Speaking about the candidates fielded by the party, Dr Siddiqui said that nine of them belonged to the families of deceased MQM-P workers. He said that there were two "martyrs" from the house of Tehseen Abidi, while one "martyr" each from the homes of Muhammad Hussain, Zahid Mansoori, Haroon Siddiqui, Sadaqat Hussain and Alia Kamran. He added that the husbands of both Rabia and Farah Sohail had been killed.
The MQM-P convener ended his speech expressing gratitude for being able to contest the elections "with unity and God-willing, we will be victorious."
Dr Sattar is back
In a press conference outside his PIB Colony residence earlier in the day, Dr Sattar announced he would contest the upcoming elections, after his request to withdraw his candidature was rejected by the party's coordination committee and Dr Siddiqui. Dr Sattar will contest the elections from NA-245 and NA-247 on the MQM-P's ticket.
Dr Sattar's announcement came after MQM-P's deputy convener Amir Khan and Faisal Subzwari visited his home in PIB Colony to deliver a message from the party chief and persuade Dr Sattar to revisit his earlier decision to withdraw his candidature.
Appeals of Farooq Sattar, Fehmida Mirza, Wasim Aftab approved
Addressing a joint press conference after the visit, Dr Sattar said that the final list of candidates for the elections had been completed. He recalled he had told Amir Khan and Siddiqui that, "Since our main purpose was to keep our unity intact after the separation of four months, I would help the party win the elections by going from door to door to ask for votes, instead of contesting them." He added, however, that it was the decision of the coordination committee that he should contest the elections from two seats.
"I did not go to Bahadarabad to ask for a ticket; rather, the MQM needs me," said Dr Sattar, adding that Subzwari and Khan had come to his house to dispel the notion that he had demanded the tickets.
"The party has decided that Sattar is an experienced parliamentarian and we need him. This is why we have rejected Dr Sattar's stance and have asked him to contest the elections," said Subzwari.
In response to a question why a seemingly weak candidate was fielded against the Pak Sarzameen Party's Mustafa Kamal, Amir Khan quipped that the candidate was selected based on Kamal's stature.