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Published 08 Oct, 2016 01:02am

MQM-London not the issue, objective is to drive out MQM-Pakistan from Karachi, says Sattar

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar on Friday said MQM-London is not the issue, the objective is to drive out MQM-Pakistan from Karachi.

"Controversial statements from the London Secretariat is not the issue, the intention is to sweep MQM from Karachi's political ground," claimed Sattar in a press conference.

The senior MQM leader also expressed serious concerns over the arrest of its Rabita Committee member, Gulfraz Khattak, who was arrested earlier on Friday from outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the metropolis.

"Khattak was implicated in provoking party activists and facilitating the inflammatory speech," said Sattar while referring to Altaf Hussain's earlier speech on August 22.

Sattar also demanded the authorities to arrest him along with the all the people nominated in the August 22 FIR.

"Do not arrest us one by one, take us all together," the MQM leader said.

Sattar also asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, interior minister, army chief and the director general Rangers to not just warmly shake hands with them, but also act in the same manner.

Sattar also warned the political and military leadership of the country that they do have the option to resign from provincial and national legislative assemblies and quit the political process.

"We have the option to resign and if we did so, we would resign from all the assemblies," the MQM lawmaker said.

Earlier, MQM’s London-based leadership announced the expulsion of MQM Pakistan leader Dr Farooq Sattar from the party in a statement shared by MQM leader Wasay Jalil.

Farooq Sattar in August sidelined MQM supremo Altaf Hussain after an anti-Pakistan rant which was followed by an attack on the ARY News office.

The MQM's London leadership has rejected the minus-Altaf formula, asserting that Altaf is still the party's uncontested chief.

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