HYDERABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) PIB group leader Dr Farooq Sattar has expressed his optimism that the ongoing rift within the party would end as a result of the serious efforts being made by mediators. He cautioned party supporters and leaders about “a plot the PPP government has hatched to deny MQM-P’s seats in the national and provincial assemblies through fresh delimitations”.

He was addressing a news conference at his group’s local headquarters on Sunday evening.

Lawmakers including Syed Wasim Hussain, Rashid Khilji, Sabir Qaimkhani, Dilawar Qureshi and Zubair Ahmed as well as Hyderabad Mayor Syed Tayyab Hussain, Deputy Mayor Syed Suhail Mushhadi and other leaders were present.

“[MQM founder] Altaf Hussain must have committed 35 mistakes in [his party’s] 35 years long journey. And if this margin of error is denied to me, then how will I lead party? I am ready to write it down that I will be accepting mistakes publicly if my decisions don’t produce positive results,” he said.

Dr Sattar said that he was ready to visit Bahadurabad [group headquarters] even on Feb 11 but some conditions were attached to his visit requiring him to cancel the meeting he had convened. He said that finally he was ousted as the party convener forcing him to call the ‘general assembly’ that dissolved [then] coordination committee.

He said that a working formula was floated by mediators to form a balanced ad hoc committee comprising members from the coordination committee formed by his group and members from other side. He complained that no one had read the party constitution while Altaf Hussain had been leading the MQM but now everyone was discussing it.

“I am ready to take the back seat. Those who are in the back seat may come forward,” he offered, and said until responsibility was on his shoulders, he would be responsible for his decisions regarding the 2018 elections. He dispelled the impression that it was a matter of his ego.

He said that party’s voters and supporters were poised to see things returning to normality as quickly as possible and the MQM-P standing united. He said that he respected people’s sentiments because he had his hands on their pulse. “I will be the last man to see the MQM-P divided,” he said. He said that he was willing to see the mediation to continue for a positive outcome. He hoped that the proceedings before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about status of party leader might throw some opportunity for resolving this crisis.

Dr Sattar said that while the process of defections stopped after he threatened to quit assemblies, PPP was allowed to buy, intimidate and threaten 14 MPAs. He said that this would weaken Sindh, Pakistan and PPP. He said that urban population was denied representation in Senate polls.

He accused PPP of undermining harmony between Sindhis and Urdu-speaking Sindhis although MQM-P stood for a stronger Sindh. He equated the present situation with that of the early 70s when quota system was introduced and status of the Urdu language was undermined.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2018