KARACHI: A day after his mysterious arrest and release, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan head Dr Farooq Sattar on Saturday blamed the Sindh government for supporting the Altaf Hussain-led party because its policies suited it.

“The interests of the PPP are with what happened on Aug 22 and not with Pakistan,” he said while speaking at a programme organised to celebrate the MQM’s 33rd foundation day at the KMC ground in PIB Colony.

A large number of party workers, inclu­ding women, attended the programme.

The Altaf Hussain-led MQM-London did not hold any event in Karachi, as they observed the foundation day as “Mohajir Day” at a programme in London.

Dr Sattar said that his party had parted ways with the London-based founder after his Aug 22 incendiary speech, but it seemed that the PPP-led Sindh government was standing with the Aug 22 events.

He complained that the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly had not been granted time to hold a meeting with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for the past three months.

He said MQM had filed a petition before the apex court against flawed procedures being adopted for the ongoing population census.

Speaking about his arrest, Dr Sattar said he was being pushed against the wall just for listening to a speech of the party founder. “Such arrests will not dampen our resolve...the enemy will never be succeeded in its evil designs.”

He demanded that the local government representatives, including mayors and deputy mayors, be given powers so that they could serve their constituents.

While Dr Sattar did not name and criticise any of his former colleagues, senior MQM leader Aamir Khan lashed out at Babar Ghori, Wasay Jalil, Mustafa Azizabadi for working against the interests of Pakistan and inciting party workers here while sitting in their comfortable houses abroad.

He also spoke against former Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad for levelling what he called baseless allegations against the MQM after enjoying power for 14 years.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2017