MQM suspends Rauf Siddiqui’s party membership

Rabita Committee says Siddiqui is ‘mentally and ideologically incapable’

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) senior leader Rauf Siddiqui was suspended from the party early on Sunday.

“During a meeting, MQM’s Rabita Committee in Karachi and London decided to suspend Rauf Siddiqui from the party,” said a party statement.

“Siddiqui is mentally and ideologically incapable,” the statement added, citing the reason for his suspension.

The Rabita Committee further announced that Siddiqui will continue to perform his duties as member of the Sindh Assembly but will not attend any party meetings or rallies.

Read: Faisal Subzwari’s absence from politics raises eyebrows

“Activists who are looking after matters pertaining to parliamentary issues may contact Siddiqui; however, they must not contact him for party activities of any kind.”

Last month, Siddiqui, along with another MQM leader, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, had obtained protective bail before arrest in seven criminal cases lodged against them for arranging and listening to party head Altaf Hussain’s speech against the military.

Read: Hear no evil: Two MQM leaders get protective bail before arrest

Headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, a division bench had approved the protective bail of Rauf Siddiqui in six cases against a surety of Rs20,000 for each of the six FIRs against him. However, MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had been granted bail for 10 days in sum of Rs50,000.

The two MQM leaders had approached the high court to seek protection against their possible arrest in connection with seven criminal cases registered against the Rabita Committee members at different police stations of Karachi following Hussain’s alleged speech against the military.