Claiming a stake: ‘MQM-H, MQM only two indigenous political parties in Karachi’

Afaq Ahmed to contest upcoming LG elections with 150 candidates

KARACHI: There are only two indigenous political parties in Karachi, the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), claimed the chairperson of the former, Afaq Ahmed, on Monday.

No other party has stakes here, he said, addressing a press conference at his DHA residence. "If Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami try to impose themselves on the people of this city, Karachi won't accept them." Lashing out at Imran Khan and the federal government, he said that they don't have any interest in the city.

MQM-H is contesting the local government elections with 150 candidates, and will support the independent candidates in union councils where its workers are not contesting, he announced.

Ahmed demanded that armed forces be deployed during the local government elections in Karachi scheduled for December 5. "For free and fair elections, army must be deployed at polling stations otherwise armed goons will be involved in rigging and will force people to vote for them," he said.

Ahmed, who used to be a close aide of Altaf Hussain, said he was against the MQM chief's wrong policies but opposed the media ban on him.

The MQM-H chairperson, who was released from prison in December 2011, demanded that his 'undeclared house arrest' be removed and restrictions on his movements be ended.

He shared his plans to hold a rally on November 15 but said that it is still unconfirmed. He had asked for permission a month ago and the venue has been changed because of security reasons, but he still is not getting permission. "I am trying to establish contacts with the people but I am not being allowed to," he said.

Lashing out at the MQM, he said, "Those who are demanding a Mohajir province should include the need and demand for a separate province and then only talk about that."

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2015.