KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on Tuesday announced once again that he was stepping down from the post of party chairman over the remarks made by Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif regarding 'Mohajirs'.

According to a statement on the MQM website, Asif had said in the National Assembly and on a television channel that, “Only people coming from Ludhiana and Jalandhar were genuine Mohajirs. All the rest are fake Mohajirs.”

Talking to Geo news on Tuesday morning, Altaf lashed out at the National Assembly claiming that the 'Mohajir community had been mocked and enough was enough'.

Read: Altaf takes back decision to resign as MQM chief

The MQM supremo said Asif had made fun of Mohajirs which was intolerable, adding that he has decided to quit the party leadership in protest of Asif's statements.

Take a look: Altaf suggests three names as likely successors

He also expressed disappointment over the National Assembly's silence over Asif's speech.

The MQM chief said that he had been trying to unite Muslim minorities for the past 37 years but now he feels that people don't want to listen to him anymore. "I will always remain the founder but am now distancing myself from the party leadership."

MQM's Central Rabita (Coordination) Committee on Tuesday held an emergency meeting to discuss the statements made by the federal defence minister. The meeting condemned the statements and demanded an apology from Khawaja Asif.

The party said it would later announce its further course of action, adding that it would also decide whether or not to hold protests over the issue in case the defence minister failed to tender an apology.

PM clarifies 'Makhi' remarks

Addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif clarified remarks made by him earlier which prompted criticism from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

"I was not the one to make mention of the world 'Makhi'. I had told Governor Ishratul Ebad to take notice of the issue of strikes in Karachi. A trader had told me that if even a fly dies, there is a strike in the city. I said that strikes shouldn't take place. I expanded on this matter in my speech, and had said that I brought your (Governor's) attention to this matter earlier too," Nawaz told the House.

Her added that, "The conversation took place in a lighter vein, but I felt it important to explain myself."

Earlier on Friday, the premier had said that the frequent strikes in Karachi badly hurt national economy and urged the Sindh governor to put an end to the protests.

Addressing a function of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nawaz said: "Even if a fly is killed in Karachi, a strike is observed and a protest is lodged".

He then turned towards Governor Ishratul Ibad: "You should try that strikes are not observed (because they) solve nothing. On the contrary they are harmful to the national economy".

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) reacted strongly on Friday to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s remarks that referred to ‘culture of strike and protest’ in Karachi and the party’s chief Altaf Hussain sought an apology from him for his comments about people of the city.

The MQM chief said “What can that governor do when he is not aware of his own status — whether he is on the ECL (exit control list) or not. The prime minister should apologise for calling Karachiites a ‘makhi’ (fly).”