KARACHI, Dec 9: Senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Dr Farooq Sattar has termed plans for delimitation of Karachi’s constituencies and verification of its voter lists parts of “a conspiracy against the MQM’s mandate”.

Speaking to a large number of MQM workers and supporters gathered at Jinnah Ground on Sunday to mark ‘Yaum-i-Shuhda’ (‘Day of the Martyrs’), Dr Sattar reiterated his party’s stance and said the planned steps were Karachi-specific and aimed at “snatching the MQM’s mandate”.

He said the MQM had never bowed before any oppressive force and would continue its struggle “for truth and justice”.

“Our struggle is motivated by the desire for the welfare of Pakistani people and progress of the country, and not by the ambition to acquire political power.”

He paid rich tribute to the MQM workers and sympathisers who were killed during what he called “successive operations against the party”. He said the killers of MQM workers and supporters should be brought to justice as soon as possible.

Dr Sattar said the MQM had faced innumerable hardships in the past, but had continued its struggle.

“It is our firm resolve even today that we will not surrender before forces of oppression and continue our struggle.”

Speaking earlier, Raza Haroon said that thousands of MQM workers, including a brother and a nephew of party chief Altaf Hussain, had laid down their lives for the party’s “just cause”.

The MQM organised a number of events across the country on Sunday to commemorate the ‘Yaum-i-Shuhda’, which the party observes each year on Dec 9. The main function was held at the Jinnah Ground in Karachi.

The MQM leaders and its office-bearers also laid floral wreaths and offered Fateha at the Yadgar-i-Shuhda, in the Jinnah Ground.