PSP, MQM-P and Mohajir Qaumi Movement on same page against Altaf Hussain

Published August 21, 2017
PSP and MQM hold joint press conference after meeting at Pakistan House. — DawnNews
PSP and MQM hold joint press conference after meeting at Pakistan House. — DawnNews

The Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and Mohajir Qaumi Movement on Monday accepted Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's (MQM-P) invitation for a multi-party conference to be held on August 22 — which MQM has termed its 'Day of Deliverance'.

PSP leader Anees Advocate, while addressing a joint press conference at the party's headquarters in Karachi, said that PSP will join MQM-P in trying to find solutions to Karachi's problems, as well as the problems of Pakistan.

"However, we hope that on August 22, when a number of people will be celebrating Youm-i-Nijaat (Day of Deliverance), MQM-P will put forward a clear stance against Pakistan's traitor," the PSP leader said while referring to MQM founder Altaf Hussain.

Anees Advocate stressed that not only MQM-P, but "all Pakistanis denounce any connection with Hussain", whom he termed an “agent of India’s intelligence agency [the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)]”.

“This country's parties need a joint strategy against that traitor and his followers who are still trying to remain connected to him — some of whom are doing it openly while others are doing it behind our backs,” the PSP leader said.

“The people of Pakistan expect that tomorrow, on the Day of Deliverance, MQM-P will call on the government, the leadership and the establishment to take legal action against the traitor and show their willingness to get rid of that menace once and for all,” Anees Advocate said.

While discussing the agenda of the multi-party conference, MQM-P's Amir Khan said: “We plan to bring everyone on the same page on various matters, including empowering the municipal system in the entire country, not just Karachi or Sindh.”

He said that members of the conference will also discuss ways to eradicate corruption and devise a strategy against anti-state elements.

"We have invited the PSP to this conference, along with other parties, so that we can sit together and come up with a joint strategy to defeat all of Pakistan's problems," Khan said.

He expressed satisfaction with PSP's acceptance of his party's invitation.

An MQM-P delegation led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui also met PPP's senior lawmaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro to invite the latter's party to the gathering. Khuhro informed the delegation that a decision to attend the meeting will be taken after consultation with the party leadership.

Later, an MQM-P delegation met Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed, who accepted the invitation to attend the meeting, terming the convergence of the so-called mohajir political parties a "good omen" for the residents of Karachi.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has already been invited to attend the conference.

August 22 marks a year's passing since Hussain referred to Pakistan as “a cancer for the entire world” in a vitriolic speech that sent shock waves throughout the country.

Hussain's anti-Pakistan slogans and hate speech also sparked violence in Karachi's South district. The chief had directed the crowd to proceed against the offices of Samaa and ARY TV channels and the Sindh Rangers. He even called on them to lock down the Sindh Secretariat.

One person was killed and several others were injured in ensuing clashes between police and violent protesters, who attacked an ARY News office in Karachi's Saddar area. A Samaa DSNG van was also attacked.

The event resulted in the party's Pakistani leadership disassociating from Altaf Hussain and creating the MQM-Pakistan faction with Dr Farooq Sattar as its leader.

A day after Hussain's speech, Sattar said that the MQM would henceforth operate from Pakistan alone and that all decisions would be made from the country — a statement that brought into effect the 'minus-one formula'.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.