Daily Times

KARACHI: A recent entrant in the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has been at the centre of the ongoing debate among the party’s senior leadership over the selection of four names for Senate tickets.

On Tuesday, the huddle of the coordination committee of the party continued till the filing of this report over differences between MQM-P head Dr Farooq Sattar and senior leader Amir Khan over the nomination of Kamran Tessori, a close aide of Sattar.

Sattar wants Tessori’s name to be among the four to get tickets for Senate election, but Amir Khan is apparently opposed to his selection. On Monday, Khan had withdrawn his own name from the list and demanded that Sattar should now withdraw Tessori’s name as well.

Earlier, the Rabita Committee had recommended six names – Nasreen Jalil, Farogh Nasim, Aminul Haque, Shabbir Qaimkhani, Amir Khan, and Kamran Tessori. After Khan’s refusal to budge on Tessori’s name, the committee reportedly gave a go ahead to the names of the remaining four members for Senate elections. However, Sattar remained insistent that Tessori should be accommodated.

The rounds of negotiations started on Tuesday with three senior members – Syed Sardar, Rauf Siddqui and Javeed Hanif – going to Sattar’s residence to persuade him to withdraw Tessori’s name. Later, Faisal Subzwari ,Nasreen Jalil, and Wasim Akhtar went as a delegation. However, Farooq Sattar remained adamant. Finally, all members of the coordination committee including Amir Khan reached Sattar’s residence and were still in the meeting when this report was filed.

Dr Sattar has often been criticised by MQM-Pakistan leaders for favouring Tessori over seasoned party leaders. Tessori was made the deputy convener, given a ticket to contest a by-election in PS-114, and has now been suggested for a Senate seat, all in the span of a year.

A gold trader by profession, Tessori joined MQM-P last year. Earlier, he was a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F).

Party workers from both Sattar’s and Khan’s camps remained present in front of the former’s residence on Tuesday, waiting to hear some news of reconciliation among the senior leaders.

Sources in the party said that Sattar has written a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking 20 forms for Senate elections.

Speaking to the media at his residence, Sattar said, “This is not about the upcoming Senate elections or regarding any one individual, but something else is at work here which I shall reveal soon.” He said he had been facing stiff resistance while making decisions during the last 15 months. “I will not compromise over my principles,” he said. Sattar also appealed to Afaq Ahmed to join hands with hi for the betterment of Muhajir community.

Spekaing before he went inside for the meeting, Coordination committee member Khwaja Izharul Hassan said, “Farooq Bahi is our leader and we will follow him.”

Commenting on the ongoing tussle in MQM-Pakistan over Senate elections, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) secretary-general Raza Haroon said it appeared that Dr Farooq Sattar’s role in MQM-Pakistan had been reduced to that of a 12th player in a Cricket team.

“Had they fought on Karachi’s issues it would have been better,” he said, adding that Sindh was in crisis, residents of the metropolis were forced to drink poisonous water but the party was fighting over Senate tickets.

Haroon said his party’s door was open for disgruntled leaders of MQM-Pakistan.

Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah expressed his regret at fissures emerging within MQM’s ranks. “I regret the falling out between party members. Something similar happened a few months ago too,” he said.

Meanwhile, political experts say that eventually Sattar will have to give in to the coordination committee’s decision. He may accommodate Tessori on some other key position in the party, they say, adding that eventually MQM-Pakistan will manage to secure Karachi-based seats in the Senate.

Published in Daily Times, February 7^th 2018.