Deserted: MQM losing ground in G-B

Altaf Hussain’s statements caused entire zonal team to part ways.

GILGIT: It seems there is no end in sight for Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s troubles. Party chief Altaf Hussain’s back-to-back controversial speeches have caused the entire MQM Baltistan zone team to jump ship.

“Hussain’s statements against security forces and his decision to seek support from India are condemnable,” said the MQM Baltistan joint in-charge Zubair Asadi. He was participating in a rally organised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Ghanche district, Gilgit-Baltistan on Sunday.

Other members of MQM also announced their resignations during the rally. District in-charge Ghazi Muhammad and joint in-charge Musharraf Hussain were among those who parted ways with the party. They have decided to join the ranks of PML-N.

Last week another party leader Sayd Abid Iqbal also left MQM on similar grounds. Iqbal was the zonal in-charge of the party in Diamer district as was the first ticket holder of the party during the 2009 G-B Legislative Assembly elections. MQM had won a seat from Shigar Valley back then.

Moreover, Raja Azam, the only MQM lawmaker in the previous government also deserted the party in June. He joined PML-N just before the legislative assembly elections.

On July 29, an anti-terrorism court in Gilgit issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Hussain for using derogatory language against Pakistan Army and the paramilitary forces. The decision was announced by judge Raja Shahbaz of ATC-I. The court became the first in the country to issue warrants for the MQM supremo.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2015.