MQM-P will remain one, say faction leaders in Liaquatabad

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan (MQM-P) Bahadurabad and PIB factions held a joint rally in Liaquatabad’s Tanki ground on Saturday, ARY News reported.

The rally, held in response to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) rally at the same venue last week, saw party’s PIB and Bahadurabad faction leaders share stage and address the party workers.

Faction heads Farooq Sattar and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that MQM-P and the “Mohajir” vote shall not be divided for the larger interest of the Urdu-speaking populace of Karachi.

‘Ek Hona Kafi Nahi Naik Hona Bhi Lazmi Hai’

MQM-P Bahadurabad faction head Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that MQM doesn’t only need unity but also need to come back on the “right track”

He told the audience that the two factions came together for people wanted it but unity is not the only solution.

“Ek Hona Kafi Nahi, Naik Hona Bhi Lazmi Hai (We don’t only need unity but integrity too),” said Khalid Maqbool.

Siddiqui said that MQM-P is united as the party has one vision and one direction.

He also criticised the authorities for what he termed a deliberate attempt to “reduce Karachi’s population” and demanded “justice” for the people of the metropolis

Siddiqui concluded his speech by saying that MQM and its voters consider Pakistan as their motherland and all its provinces as parts of this home.

The biggest highlight of Siddiqui’s speech, however, was how he altered MQM’s age-old slogan ‘Hamein Manzil Nahi Rehnuma Chahye’ (we love our leader more than our destination) to carve and raised a new slogan “Hamein Rehnuma Nahi Manzil Chahye’ (We need destination not a leader).

Manzil Nahi Rehnuma Chahye’ was one of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) top slogans till they were led by founder Altaf Hussain. The party members never raised the slogan after it dissociated itself from Altaf Hussain and became a separate entity on August 23, 2016.

‘Voters will keep leadership united’

MQM-P’s PIB faction head Farooq Sattar, on his turn, said that MQM-P’s voters have the power to keep its leadership united and they are enough to scare away all the opponents of the party.

Taking a dig at rival PPP leaders Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto and Faryal Talpur, he said that the “Pappa, Phuppo, Puppoo’ (Son, aunt and Bilawal) party has challenged MQM on its home-ground while failing to serve people of Sindh.

“This party (PPP) is being run by a single family for years and have done injustices to the people of whole province,” he told the audience.

He reiterated his resolve to make today’s MQM as popular and upright as the “MQM of 1986” and demanded support from people of Liaquatabad to achieve this goal.

 

‘No room for violence’

MQM-P Bahadurabad faction leader, during his speech said that his party and its voters love all the communities and ethnic groups and expect love  and acceptance in return.

“We will give PPP a befitting response but through our vote for we feel that now there is no room for violence in Karachi’s politics,” said Amir Khan.

He maintained that he believes people of Liaquatabad will only vote for MQM for the party was formed in this area and has served it day in and day out.

It is pertinent to note here that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari strongly criticised MQM during a rally in Liaquatabad’s Tanki Ground on April 29.

Bilawal not only accused MQM of terrorism but also termed them ‘Mustaqil Qaumi Museebat’. His remarks evoked a strong response from both the factions of MQM-P with leaders speeding up efforts for reconciliation between the groups led by Sattar and Siddiqui.