Altaf resigns, takes back decision

MPA Faisal Subzwari told to resign from his seat after failing to attend early morning address

KARACHI: For the second time this year, Altaf Hussain stepped down from his party position only to take back the decision within a span of a few hours.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief had resigned as the party head early Monday morning while addressing workers at Nine-Zero, where the party’s senators, parliamentarians and office-bearers had been called to attend the telephonic conference.

But hours after announcing his resignation, the MQM chief reinstated himself on the “vehement” request of his party workers, who had been pleading and shouting to Altaf to reconsider his decision during the address.

Altaf said his address would be the last and he would not lead the party anymore. He asked the party leaders to select a new chief and wished them good luck in taking the movement forward. He also suggested the MQM should wind up its political activities and concentrate on its social welfare side.

“I will not be addressing the workers from now on,” he announced. “Workers should call off the movement and stop all political activities. MQM should divert all resources towards the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation.”

The MQM chief added he was fed up of listening to criticism and abuses over the past 40 years on behalf of the Urdu-speaking community.

Lawmaker suspended

Faisal Subzwari, MQM provincial assembly member, was suspended from the party and asked to resign from his seat after failing to attend the early morning address.

The lawmaker, who along with some other leaders was absent from Nine-Zero, later submitted an apology, stating he could not come to the meeting as he was not feeling well.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2015.