KARACHI: In his first direct invitation to Dr Farooq Sattar, Pak Sarzameen Party chief Syed Mustafa Kamal on Thursday invited the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader to “join hands” after he disowned MQM founder Altaf Hussain over his “anti-Pakistan speech” on Aug 22 and separated the entire party structure from the London leadership.

While addressing a press conference at the PSP head office, Mr Kamal, however, kept his line clear when he said if a possibility of their merger emerged, the PSP would be the only platform that could solve the problems being faced by the city and its residents for past three decades.

The media talk was originally planned to announce former MQM parliamentarian Shakir Ali and senior members Naik Mohammad and Saleem Tajik joining the PSP. But Mr Kamal’s thought dropped a hint about his future political moves and expected strategy for strengthening the PSP organisational structure amid the ongoing crisis being faced by the MQM.

“I ask and welcome Dr Farooq Sattar Bhai and every member of his team to join us,” he said.

“They should do this as it’s the only solution to all problems. I hope this can happen but [if] anything would emerge, the PSP would be the platform for that. Our party is open to everyone as we are here with the message of peace and attachment. We are not here to further divide or for violence.”

He questioned the strategy of the provincial and federal governments accusing them of protecting the MQM and its leader Altaf Hussain while portraying that they were against the party’s founder in exile for more than 20 years.

Mr Hussain and his way of politics “suits” both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) governments, he added.

“The other day, I saw Murad Ali Shah [Sindh chief minister] defending Altaf Hussain,” he said.

“I was wondering how could this happen that he [Mr Shah] has developed so much sympathy for the MQM and his leader? This is how he feels for the MQM while at the same time, his government never allows power and authorities for the MQM mayor. Can anyone with common sense relate these gestures? So I request Karachiites to understand that Altaf Hussain suits the governments for their politics, with no sympathy for Karachiites.”

He said he had expanded the PSP to Middle East and Britain and also established offices in Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan despite all those speculations and propaganda that his party would not survive even for a few months.

Mr Kamal also criticised the segments of media and political circle questioning his language and choice of words to criticise the MQM and his founder.

“I am criticised that I used crude and unrefined words,” he said.

“I am also blamed that I have not been polite towards them [MQM and his founder]. Let me ask one thing. What should I call the agent of RAW? How should I refer to him that he is a man sitting in London and working for some intelligence agency of a neighbouring country. This is not justified. I speak only truth and if it’s felt as harsh criticism, I can’t help it.”

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2016