KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Thursday severally criticised the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) saying his party always supported them but the latter betrayed them time and again, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to a convention of the party’s labour division over telephone from London, he warned the former coalition partner in Sindh and at the centre that MQM’s peaceful struggle for democracy should not be mistaken for as a sign of weakness.

Hussain claimed that the PPP could not even complete four months in government, leave alone four years, if they (MQM) parted ways with them. “If we can bring them in power…we can get rid of them also,” warned the MQM chief saying the PPP should straighten their act now.

Speaking on return of Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan, he said the governor had tendered his resignation upon voice of his conscience. For the greater interests of Sindh and the country, he was advised to reconsider his decision of leaving the post, said Hussain. “There was no vested interest of Altaf Hussain, the MQM or even Governor Ibad in this decision.”

People belonging to all schools of thought had asked him to not leave the governor office, he added.

Assailing the PPP for repealing the MQM-backed local government act in Sindh, Hussain said the country was being run on a “fake democratic system,” adding that without local governments in place there can never be true democracy in the country.

Expressing concerns over law and order situation in Punjab, Hussain said incompetence and shortcomings have brought the country to this stage.

He demanded the authorities to bring to book the killers of Shia Hazaras and Ulemas.