HYDERABAD: Senior Mutta­hida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Amir Khan on Friday said that although his party was an ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf his party it was not satisfied with the performance of the federal government.

He added that the progress on fulfilment of promises made with his party remained very slow.

Mr Khan said that post-Altaf Hussain MQM was better as it was violence free. “This MQM does not have politics of weapon.”

He added that after 2016 not a single activist was killed.

He said that the MQM-P was pursuing the politics of reconciliation.

He said even then there was always a room for improvement and the party was trying to reform everything.

The MQM-p leader was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting held to remember late party leader and former Hyderabad mayor Aftab Ahmed Sheikh. Deputy convenor Kanwar Naveed Jameel, district organiser Zafar Siddiqui and others were also present.

Mr Khan said the MQM-P was not satisfied with the PTI’s performance in view of the uncontrolled price hike and high inflation.

He said that the PTI had made certain commitments with the MQM-P, which had not been honoured as far as the establishment of a university in Hyderabad was concerned.

“Progress on all the commitments regarding urban areas of Sindh remains very slow,” he said.

Mr Khan, who is the senior deputy convener of the MQM’s coordination committee, said his party would not become part of any undemocratic process to overthrow the government. “If any change is seen through a democratic process MQM would consider it.”

He said that the MQM-P’s separation from the PTI government would not make any difference due to the country’s political culture, system as well as ‘some quarters’.

He said the PML-N and PPP were not the options for the MQM-P if it quit the PTI government and added that these two parties never benefitted rather committed excesses against the MQM.

“A fight between bigwigs has started. It is premature to comment who will survive. The MQM is a part of the government and it is still with it. If any change is seen it will go into consultation,” he said.

He said there were no limits in politics but the MQM-P would not play a role that may create an impression that it was blackmailing the government in view of the current situation. “But we are worried with PTI’s performance,” he said.

He said the MQM-P did not have any contact with those who formed the Voice of Karachi group. He said Haider Rizvi and Adil Siddiqui were part of the MQM-P.

Tributes to late Aftab Shaikh

He paid rich tribute to late Aftab Shaikh and said he was the identity of Hyderabad and MQM would always remain beholden to his family as he remained steadfast and loyal to the party till his death.

Kanwar Naveed recalled his 34-year-long association with late Shaikh and said he was a brave, humble and bold man.

He claimed that late Shaikh himself told him how he faced tremendous pressure to join the Pak Sarzameen PArty but he declined to join it.

Incumbent principal of the Jinnah Law College Nasir Shah proposed that a new law college should be founded in Hyderabad in Aftab Sheikh’s name.

Vice Chancellor Government College University Hyderabad Prof Nasir Shaikh, Zafar Siddiqui, Ishrat Ali Khan, Rev. Frt Daniel Fayaz, Taj M Keerio and Qamar Sheikh also spoke.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2020