Former federal ministers and members of the London faction of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Babar Ghauri and Shamim Siddiqui, announced on Sunday their resignation from the Altaf Hussain-led party.

Ghauri, while speaking to DawnNews, confirmed that he was resigning from the MQM-L for personal reasons. He explained that he was not doing so as part of any deal or under any duress, adding that he had decided not to join any other political party, and would stay away from politics for the time being.

He said that the mohajir community is facing difficult times and would need to unite face the challenges.

Shamim Siddiqui said his resignation came as a result of disagreements over the MQM-L policy following an incendiary speech by Altaf Hussain on August 22, 2016

The MQM founder has been in trouble since his diatribe against the armed forces in last year, after which his party members distanced themselves from him and gathered under the leadership of Farooq Sattar to form a separate faction, the MQM-Pakistan.

Hussain has already been deserted by Nadeem Nusrat, Wasay Jalil, Inbisat Malik and Zulfiqar Haider.

Earlier, workers and supporters of MQM-L were baton-charged and arrested on Saturday when they attempted to pay respects at Yadgar-i-Shuhada — a monument built in memory of MQM activists killed over the years.

The coordination committee of the party criticised the police action and deplored that the government, army, Rangers and police allowed “religious extremists to hold Islamabad hostage, but they were stopping us from even offering Fateha at the graves of our martyrs”.

Opinion

Editorial

A new direction
18 Mar, 2025

A new direction

WITH the security situation in Balochistan and KP rapidly deteriorating, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership...
BTK settlement
18 Mar, 2025

BTK settlement

WHEREVER the money goes, controversy follows. The PMLN-led federal government, which recently announced that it will...
Sugar crisis
18 Mar, 2025

Sugar crisis

GREED knows no bounds. But the avarice of those involved in the sugar business — from manufacturers to retailers...
NAP revival
Updated 17 Mar, 2025

NAP revival

This bloody cycle of violence will continue unless action is complemented with social, economic, political efforts in Balochistan and KP.
New reality
17 Mar, 2025

New reality

THE US retreat from global climate finance commitments could not have come at a worse time. Pakistan faces an...
Killer traffic
17 Mar, 2025

Killer traffic

MYSTERIOUS and unstoppable. It is these words that perhaps best describe the recent surge in traffic-related...