Altaf Hussain takes back decision to sever ties with MQM

Published January 29, 2015
– Screen grab shows Altaf Hussain speaking to his supporters
– Screen grab shows Altaf Hussain speaking to his supporters

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on late Thursday night, withdrew his earlier announcement to sever all ties with his party.

The MQM leader made the announcement during a telephonic address to party workers at Nine-Zero.

Altaf stepped back from his earlier announcement after emotional pleas and chants from MQM workers who urged him to take back his decision.

He said that if his party workers were happy with him, then he would continue to lead them.

However, he also warned that if any more MQM workers were killed then a wheel jam strike would follow the next day.

He had initially stated that he would deliver his last address to MQM workers and supporters on Friday.

Earlier today, as parts of Sindh shut down on the MQM's call to observe a day of mourning over its worker Sohail Ahmed's killing, Altaf Hussain announced that he would sever all ties with his party,

Talking to a private news channel he had also asked for the nation's forgiveness.

The MQM chief had claimed that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had never accepted him and accused the country's premier intelligence agency of implicating him in cases even though no corruption was proved against him.

He also said that he had seen the 'ISI's hand supporting the lawyers movement against former president Pervez Musharraf'.

Read: Partial shut down in parts of Sindh over MQM strike call

Altaf said he held Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah responsible for the murder of 36 party activists, according to a statement issued on the MQM's website.

The remarks of the MQM supremo come as his party observes a national day of mourning and a wheel jam strike in Sindh over the 'extrajudicial killing' of one of its workers in Karachi.

Also read: MQM walks out of Sindh Assembly during CM's address

MQM representatives on Tuesday staged a walkout after shouting slogans during Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah's address in the Sindh Assembly.

Shah had termed the MQM's protest, which was staged a few days earlier at the CM House, as an "attack on the CM house" rather than the expression of a grievance.

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...