Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's Chief Farooq Sattar quit the party and politics, hours after Rabita Committee had expressed its confidence in his leadership after high-level huddle on Thursday. The decision also comes a day after MQM-Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party had announced to contest for general elections 2018 under ‘one name, one election symbol’.
Addressing to a press conference outside his residence on Thursday, the disgruntled MQM-P chairman rejected the merger with Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Thursday saying he apologises to all party members and the Muhajir community who had “shed tears” on yesterday’s developments.
He clarified that he had only urged an alliance with PSP for upcoming elections during yesterday. “How can we erase our history and forget the martyrs,” Sattar asked.
About the election alliance with PSP, he said they had only stretched for it so that peace in Karachi can be prolonged and the issues of the province can be solved with joint action. “MQM-P wanted working relationship with PSP to prolong peace and voice the concerns of the people,” Sattar told, stressing that Mustafa Kamal had hurt the feelings of Muhajirs.
Farooq Sattar claimed that MQM has been the only party to represent the middle-class of Pakistan. He went on to demand of all the leaders of major political parties including PML-N, PTI, PPP and ANP to be accountable of their assets.
“I had joined APS in 1979 and became part of MQM when the founder made the party,” he told about his humble beginning.
He challenged his political rivals to compare his assets with those of others, describing the purchase of his property and vehicle. “I use a second hand car which is not even mine,” he added.
He told that he was the first person to be acquitted by Supreme Court when NAB punished him in a corruption reference. “Engineered politics is unacceptable in Karachi or Pakistan. Only natural politics should be allowed,” Sattar made it clear.
Farooq Sattar recalled that the media had declared MQM-P’s November 5 rally as amongst the biggest public gathering in Karachi’s history. He said that their move for electoral alliance with PSP was taken after November 5 rally and the two political rivals had very little contact before the event.
Moreover, he invited Mustafa Kamal and his party leaders to join MQM-P and merge PSP with "their roots".
