Farooq Sattar resigns from coordination committee

Starting from February 5, internal rifts within MQM-P have only deepened

KARACHI: Senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar excused himself from working in the coordination committee and tendered in his resignation. However, there was some confusion on the issue as it was unclear whether Sattar was still a functional member of the coordination committee or not as the MQM-P has not issued any statement in this regard.

Starting from February 5, the internal rifts within the MQM-P have only deepened and it seems unlikely that they will end any time soon. Sattar's spokesperson, Nazia Ali, published the news of resignation on social media. When contacted, an MQM leader, speaking on the basis of anonymity, said that following a dispute over the convenership, both the PIB and Bahadurabad groups approached the court and the court ruled in favour of Bahadurabad group and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui became the convener. Sattar began working in the party again and was nominated to contest for two constituencies. However, he was not given any position as a member of coordination committee. The MQM-P leader further added that Sattar was still considered a senior leader, who enjoyed respect and status in the party, except he was not a member of coordination committee, and thus, the party had not deemed it important to issue any statement regarding his resignation.



MQM-P sources stated that after February 5, the dispute between Bahadurabad and PIB Colony groups intensified. While Sattar tried his best to garner support from amongst MQM-P workers against the Bahadurabad group, he was not successful.

Sources within the party said that a few days prior to the elections, Sattar had visited the Bahadurabad office and agreed to work under the leadership of Siddiqui.The sources added that after Sattar had faced defeat in elections, important MQM-P leaders like Siddiqui, Waseem Akhtar, Amir Khan, Kunwar Naveed and Faisal Subzwari stopped taking Sattar into confidence regarding important decisions.

Sattar filed a complaint to the mediation committee stating that injustice was being meted out to him. Sources said that while the mediation committee had assured Sattar that he would be made the convener after elections, this did not happen.

Sources said that in the first phase, Sattar will resign as the member of the coordination committee and if he is not made convener, he will resign from the party as well. According to sources, important announcements from leaders supporting Sattar are also expected. It seems that MQM-P has once again reached the same position as on February 5. An MQM-P spokesperson said that any stance would be given after Sattar's resignation is received, stating that it had not been received yet.