MQM chooses Nadeem Nusrat to fill Imran Farooq’s shoes

After several years, MQM appoints party convenor, deputy convenor

KARACHI: After several years, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) appointed Nadeem Nusrat as its new convenor, a key post in party ranks that was held by the deceased, Dr Imran Farooq, until he was killed in London in 2010.

Altaf's closest aide in London, Nusrat, has been appointed as the 'acting convener' of the MQM while Amir Khan has taken over Nusrat's former position as the senior deputy convener of the coordination committee.

The Rabita Committee, which is the party's policy-making body, announced the decision in a press statement on Thursday, following a meeting among party leaders, parliamentarians and workers. Party chief Altaf Hussain has endorsed the decision, read the statement.

Nusrat has been with the party since the 1980s. He fled to London with Altaf during the 1992 army operation and had been serving as the senior deputy convener. He is also heading the international secretariat, and is said to be involved in policy decisions.

The party calls the steps as a 'restructuring' of the party. "Reorganisation in the party is taking place the light of the upcoming local bodies election, and the MQM is gearing up for it by restructuring its setup," said MQM spokesperson in Karachi, Aminul Haque.

The new senior deputy convener, Khan, who is facing charges for harbouring criminals and instigating terrorism, is currently on bail. However, the party sees no problems with that. "Party leaders have faced jail and cases. This shall have no effect on his working," said Haque.

The MQM has, however, no plans to appoint a new chairperson, a position that was held by one of the founding members, Azeem Tariq, who was murdered in Karachi in 1993.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2015.