KARACHI: In what appears to be an attempt to flex political muscles, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Dr Farooq Sattar has announced that his party will stage a rally to visit “Martyrs’ Monument” in Azizabad’s Jinnah Ground, close to the MQM’s sealed headquarters, on Saturday (today).

Since MQM founder Altaf Hussain’s Aug 22, 2016 incendiary speech, the party’s Nine Zero headquarters and its public secretariat at Khurshid Memorial Complex in Azizabad have been sealed off and the MQM-P, or those associated with Altaf-led MQM-London, have not been allowed to visit the monument known as Yadgar-i-Shuhada.

While the powers that be want the MQM-P to end its Mohajir politics and merge itself with the Pak Sarzameen Party by forming a new party, Dr Sattar’s decision to stage the rally towards the monument to pay tribute to those who lost their lives while “struggling for the Mohajir cause” is seen as a clear act of defiance.

The MQM-P feels that the move may further antagonise the establishment since there are chances that Mr Hussain’s loyalists may also join the rally.

“I believe we will be able to stage the march,” said a senior MQM-P leader.

Uncertainty looms over deal between MQM-P and PSP

In a video statement posted on his Twitter account on Friday, Dr Sattar told his party’s workers and “Haq Parast” people that his party would march from Ayesha Manzil to the “Martyrs’ Monument” on Saturday at 3pm. “The MQM will never forget the sacrifices of our martyrs,” he said.

The paramilitary Rangers always cordon off the Azizabad area on the days significant for the party to stop its workers and supporters to gather near the famous Mukka Chowk and to visit the monument.

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms large over the deal between the MQM-P and PSP despite Dr Sattar’s Thursday night’s announcement that the “political alliance” remained intact from their side.

Both parties entered into an “establishment-sponsored” political deal and announced on Wednesday that they would contest the coming general election from one platform and on one election symbol.

Faced with stiff resistance from his own party, Dr Sattar on Thursday night lashed out at Mr Kamal, rejected reports of a possible merger and announced quitting politics only to reverse his decision in an hour.

Although he made clear that his party would contest elections on its symbol — kite — and from the platform of the MQM-P, he said that from his side political alliance with the PSP remained intact and it could also turn into an electoral alliance if needed.

Mr Kamal, however, showed patience and did not come up with any reaction to Thursday night’s developments, or announce the demise of the alliance, on Friday.

He called a “very important” press conference on Saturday (today) at his party’s headquarters and his media team indicated that the PSP chief would respond to Dr Sattar’s criticism. However, nothing has been said about the fate of the political deal between the two parties.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2017