Newly-elected vice-chairman of the party, Akhtar Hussain, addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club. -APP Photo Hassan Mahmood

`We are here to tell the authorities that party workers are fully prepared to take up the challenge and return to their homes in the areas which have been made no-go areas for them for the last six years,` the newly-elected vice-chairman of the party, Akhtar Hussain, told a press conference at Karachi Press Club. Afaq Ahmed, who had been arrested more than five years ago, had been elected party chairman, he said.

`We have put up our case before the PPP-led government but so far not succeeded in getting its support as our workers are being harassed and arrested to appease the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is a coalition partner and our rival,` he said.

He alleged that the authorities did not allow the party leadership to hold a general workers meeting in Sherpao Colony last week and the party was forced to hold its elections behind closed doors.

`Even today (Thursday), when our workers were preparing to reach the press club to join their new leadership, a heavy contingent of police led by the SHO of Quaidabad police station tried to obstruct the rally near Quaidabad area. More than a dozen of our workers are still missing,` Mr Hussain alleged.

He said the MQM-H was part of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and remained in close contact with the Pakistan People`s Party (PPP), one of the major parities forming the alliance.

`But unfortunately, since it came to power, the PPP has not been responding to our requests and the operation against our party is still continuing at the behest of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement,` he claimed.

Sohail Anjum, the newly-elected information secretary, introduced the new office-bearers of the party. According to him, Nadeem-ul-Islam has been elected secretary-general, Shamshad Ghori vice-chairman, Riaz Anjum treasurer, and Zafar Aziz and Kashif Mughal joint secretaries.

He said more than 3,000 party workers from across the province participated in the election. The new leadership, he added, was determined to activate the party in its political struggle that had come to a standstill after the October 2002 general elections in the country.

The new leadership also vowed to rebuild the party headquarters, Baitul Hamza, in Landhi area, which was bulldozed in November 2002, and warned that any resistance posed by the authorities could produce negative results.

`We have already challenged the illegal demolition of Baitul Hamza in the Sindh High Court. We are the legitimate owners of the property and enjoy the right to rebuild the building to re-launch the party activities,` said Mr Hussain.

In reply to a question about Amir Khan, the former secretary-general of the party who parted his ways a few months ago, Mr Hussain said he was no more part of the MQM-H and the party was intact under the leadership of its chairman, Afaq Ahmed.

`Those who have quit the party are free to decide their future. As far as the MQM-H is concerned, it is the only party with this name and no one can use this platform for his personal agenda,` added Mr Hussain.