Muttahida Qaumi Movement's convener in London and Altaf Hussain's long-time ally, Nadeem Nusrat has parted ways with Hussain, DawnNews reported on Monday.

Quoting sources, DawnNews said that a rift over financial matters forced Nusrat to take the decision. He has since moved to the United States with his family, the sources claimed.

His move adds to Hussain's worries, who has already been deserted by prominent London Rabita Committee members Wasay Jalil, Inbisat Malik and Zulfiqar Haider, sources informed DawnNews.

The MQM founder has been in trouble since his diatribe against the armed forces in August last year, following which his party members had distanced themselves from him and gathered under the leadership of Farooq Sattar to form a separate faction.

Once named by Hussain as one of his three possible successors, Nusrat's association with the MQM chief spans over three decades. Practically, Nusrat was the second-in-command to Hussain.

In May 2013, Nadeem Nusrat was appointed deputy convener of the party's Rabitta Committee's London chapter. In March 2015, Hussain told a meeting of elected representatives and office-bearers of his party that they could choose Dr Farooq Sattar, Nadeem Nusrat or Mohammad Anwar as his replacement.

After the falling out in 2016, Nusrat was made convener of the MQM-London faction of the party and empowered to reorganise and run the party's affairs.

Subsequently, he played an active role within the party's London-based group as well as on social media to defend Hussain. He had been strongly critical of those party leaders who abandoned Hussain in the post August 22, 2016 scenario.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...