Not me, Sattar sought Establishment's help for MQM-PSP alliance: Kamal

KARACHI: Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chairman Mustafa Kamal on Saturday deplored an impression that his party has backing of the ‘establishment’ and MQM-P chief Dr Farooq Sattar was pressed for forming an alliance with the PSP, ARY News reported.

Addressing a press conference at Pakistan House here, Kamal accused Sattar of soliciting support of the establishment for bringing the two parties on the negotiations table.

“Let me tell you the actual story behind the joint-presser; it was Sattar who has been making efforts to merge PSP into MQM-P for last eight months,” Kamal underlined.

He said the establishment called upon his party to form an alliance with the MQM-P on Sattar’s request, denying the impression, as what he claimed, was being ingrained into the public minds that PSP approached the establishment for forming an alliance with Sattar-led MQM-P.

“The alliance could only be formed between two similar parties,” Kamal said while implying that it was a merger to contest upcoming elections under a new party name, electoral symbol, and banner.

“How could I forge alliance with MQM since I do not believe in the MQM at all,” he asserted.

Responding to speculations, Kamal said Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) formed at Rangers headquarters after Sattar arrested on August 22, 2016, adding if he was an agent, he would have never resigned from the senate in 2013.

As Sattar took up the reins of MQM on Aug 22, 2016, he made an all-out effort to convince the PSP leadership for a merger, he claimed.

He said the top brass of MQM-P has never spoke a single word against Altaf Hussain throughout this entire drama and now hurling allegations on PSP leadership.

In apparent response to an allegation of apathetic attitude towards issues faced by Mohajir community, Kamal said it was his party efforts that helped release of 70 missing community men.

Taking a swipe at Sattar, the PSP chairman said his mother had passed away but she would have been alive; he would never drag her into politics for safeguarding his political career.

Earlier on Nov 9, MQM-P chief Dr Farooq Sattar stated that Kamal was dragging his feet on the issues being faced by the Muhajir community.

Taking a jibe at Kamal, Sattar asked him to win a single seat from Peshawar, Larkana or Lahore with his brand of ‘inclusive politics’ if he wants to shun ethnic-based politicking.

Sattar claimed that Mohajirs were still facing discrimination while trying to get government jobs but Mustafa Kamal was not ready to voice his concern over this injustice with Mohajirs.

‘Merger’ or ‘Alliance’

It merits highlighting here that on November 8, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan (MQM-P) announced to form a political alliance and vowed to contest next general elections under “one banner, name, manifesto and electoral symbol”.

Addressing a joint press conference at Karachi Press Club, MQM-P chief Farooq Sattar and PSP chief Mustafa Kamal announced what Kamal terms a “merger: of the two parties who were once a part of Altaf Hussain-led MQM.

However, the decision of forming alliance or merger was taken back within 24 hours.