ISLAMABAD, Sept 4 The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has decided to move its international secretariat from London to Dubai, Dawn has learnt.

According to sources in the party, the MQM leadership has taken the decision due to logistical reasons as the party's members and office-bearers have been facing difficulties in obtaining visa for the UK whenever they are called to London for meetings.

The sources said that renovation work was under way in the building that would house the party's new secretariat. The new offices are expected to be operational within three months.

According to a source, Mr Hussain will continue to live in London and will travel to Dubai to attend important meetings of the MQM there.

Dubai became an important centre for Pakistani politics in 1998 when former prime minister Benazir Bhutto started living there in self-exile.

Ms Bhutto regularly convened meetings of her party's Central Executive Committee and senior leaders in Dubai during the nine-year rule of former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The controversial deal between Gen (retd) Musharraf and Ms Bhutto regarding the National Reconciliation Ordinance was also struck in Dubai whereas the first direct meeting between the two took place in Abu Dhabi.

The MQM formally established its international secretariat in London in 1995 - three years after its chief Altaf Hussain started living there.

Mr Hussain was advised by his party colleagues and members of the Rabita Committee to leave the country immediately after he survived an assassination attempt in December 1991. The MQM chief left the country for Saudi Arabia on his way to London in January 1992 - six months before a military operation was launched against the party during Nawaz Sharif's first tenure as prime minister.

Mr Hussain was in London when the party's name was changed from “Mohajir Qaumi Movement” to the present “Muttahida Qaumi Movement” in 1997.