'Plus one' formula: MQM denies inclusion of Pervez Musharraf as party leader

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Pervez Musharraf met Khawaja Izharul Hassan in Dubai. —DawnNews screengrab
Pervez Musharraf met Khawaja Izharul Hassan in Dubai. —DawnNews screengrab

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan on Tuesday rejected speculations over the 'plus one' formula proposed by the counsel for former president Pervez Musharraf, where he had hinted the inclusion of Musharraf in MQM as a party leader.

A video statement of Ahmad Raza Kasuri had surfaced on Monday suggesting inclusion of Pervez Musharraf in MQM as a leader. But MQM issued a statement today to clear doubts regarding the speculation and rejected any such development.

MQM in its press release also rejected speculations carried out by the local media regarding a meeting between the former president and MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan.

"MQM rejects media speculations over meeting of Khawaja Izharul Hassan with Pervez Musharraf and Ahmad Raza Kasuri's statement must be considered as his personal desire," read the statement.

"Musharraf and Izhar talked about political situation of country during the informal meeting but no such formula was discussed in the meeting," it added.

The party statement, however, incorrectly mentioned that Khurshid Kasuri, the former foreign minister, had issued the video statement while in reality it was Ahmad Raza Kasuri — the counsel for Musharraf — who had issued the statement.

Last month, MQM Pakistan amended its constitution to remove Altaf Hussain as party chief after his August 22 speech which created tense situation between the law enforcement agencies and MQM.

The agencies started crackdown against MQM after Altaf’s “Anti-National” speech.

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