Coordination committee sacks Farooq Sattar as MQM-P convener

KARACHI: Levelling a number of allegations, the coordination committee (Rabita Committee) sacked Farooq Sattar as Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) convener on Sunday.

“With a heavy heart, we, the coordination committee members, announce to sack Farooq Sattar as convener. He is no more MQM-P convener. He is just a party worker now,” announced Deputy Convener MQM-P Kunwar Naveed Jamil in a press conference flanked by other Rabita Committee members.

Citing his own example, he said he himself was sacked as a coordination committee member for six times in the past and Farooq Sattar’s reelection as a convener depended on his performance. The committee could reverse its decision, if Farooq Sattar compensated party losses, he added.

Accusing the ex-convener of overstepping his authorities, Kunwar Naveed said Farooq Sattar without taking into confidence the complete committee tried to amend the party constitution. He took into his hands the authority of adding and expelling party members which was prerogative of the coordination committee, he said.

“He is responsible for cancellation of party registration. He had time for NGOs but not for the party,” he said pointing towards delaying in renewal of party registration that led to its cancellation.

He alleged that abusive language was used against Amir Khan and Waseem Akhtar when they visited the PIB House on Saturday to coax him.

Read More: Farooq Sattar asks coordination committee to decide four new names for Senate polls

“These issues were already cooking within the party. Kamran Tessori was incorporated into the committee after one month of his joining the party. The complete committee got disturbed due to him,” he said.

The rift ostensibly took place between the party leaders and the convener on issuing tickets for Senate elections.

Farooq Sattar’s response

In a quick response, Farooq Sattar talking to media persons said the conspiracy had been exposed. His aides had established that it was not the matter of Senate elections but it was the issue of taking over the party, he added.

He termed the Rabita Committee decision tantamount to expelling all the party workers from the MQM-P.

“They did not remove me from the convenership of the party but they have ousted the party loyalists and party workers from the party,” he said.

Kamran Tessori said this had been clear that it was not the issue of Senate tickets but it was the issue of powers in the party.

Earlier, Farooq Sattar had asked the coordination committee to choose mutually agreed four new names for the Senate elections other than the names of the candidates submitted by both the sides earlier.

“We will drop the names of controversial members including Farough Naseem, Ameenul Haq, Shabbir Qaimkhani, Amir Khan and Kamran Tessori and table four fresh names to ensure unity among our ranks. And if the matter still remains unresolved than we will withdraw from Senate elections,” he said.

He said the committee members had objected  to Tessori’s candidacy and he had agreed to it on the spot but the issues still escalated.

The ex-MQM-P chief had said if they still could not find a solution to the problem then he would suggest to forget the Senate polls and save the party.