Farooq demands intra-party elections in MQM-P

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar on Friday demanded intra-party election to turn MQM-P into an ideological party. His demand evoked an instant reaction from his junior comrades Faisal Subzwari and Khwaja Izharul Hassan who said that intra-MQM polls were held in 2016 and Farooq Sattar himself oversaw those elections. However, they downplayed the differences, asserting they would meet Farooq Sattar to sort out the issues.
"I will be stick to two demands that MQM should be restored as an ideological party; and the positions which the party's officials held before February 05, 2018 should also be restored," the party's veteran who resigned from Rabita Committee last month said at a press conference at Karachi Press Club.
Breaking his silence almost after one month since he quit the main decision-making body of the party, Sattar said he had resigned for personal reasons but now he decided to speak about the affairs of the party. He said MQM-P is in a weak position now and it was evident from the results of general election to national and provincial legislatures' seats from Karachi, where its national assembly seats reduced to four from past 17 seats.
"I have embarked upon the mission of making MQM-Pakistan an ideological party truly; otherwise, it will be heading towards total destruction," he said, adding that the by-elections in Karachi are an acid test for MQM-P; hence, all the people should be reinstated on the positions they held prior to February 05, 2018 if we want to save the party from further destruction.
He said intra-party elections are sole panacea if we want to save the party. He said fresh mandate from the workers would surmount the crisis that has enveloped the party right now.
However, MQM-P leader Faisal Subzwari said that it was decided at the party meeting that they would meet Farooq Sattar to sort out issues. He expressed hope Sattar would join them in running by-election campaign.
Khwaja Izharul Hassan said party elections would be held in 2020. MQM-P leaders also noted the timing of their senior comrade's press conference because by-election approaching fast.
The differences between Dr Farooq Sattar and Bahadurabad group led by Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Amir Khan had created a gulf in the ranks and files of the party. Dr Siddiqui was able to snatch the top position of the party under the court's judgment. Since then, he held a low-profile and later he suffered shocking defeat in the National Assembly election from Karachi on July 25, 2018.
Farooq Sattar's new demands once again put the party in another critical phase as MQM-P seems to have failed to manage its affairs since it announced parted ways with its founder.