KARACHI: Notwithstanding claims made by the two factions in the Mutahhida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), support for Farooq Sattar-led PIB group and Bahadurabad group of the Rabita committee members are evenly split among district municipal committees. Of the four DMC held by MQM-Pakistan, the chairmen of Central and West DMCs, Rehan Hashmi and Izharul Haq, respectively, are supporting Sattar. The chairmen of Korangi and East DMCs, Nayyar Raza and Moeed Anwar, respectively, are with the Bahadurabad group. Based on informal conversations with party workers and leaders from both groups, the perception is that a majority of chairmen and vice chairmen at the union council levels and unit incharges of the party are with Sattar. No clear picture has yet emerged of the 23 MNAs (19 on general seats and four on reserve) and 38 MPAs (minus 12 who have announced support for the Pak Sarzameen Party). Meanwhile, Sattar’s spokesperson, Ahsan Ghauri, the convener of All Pakistan Muhajir Students Federation (APMSO), claims that the PIB group has confirmed support of 22 MPAs. And, four MNAs were seen at the general workers gathering addressed by Sattar on Sunday night. These are Ali Raza Abidi, Muzammil Qureshi, Khwaja Sohail, and Salman Mujahid, who has left PSP and rejoined Sattar. Nothing concrete can yet be said about the remaining 15 MNAs elected on general seats and at least three of four women MNAs elected on reserved seats (Nasreen Jalil has publicly sided with the Bahadurabad group). Though, speaking to Daily Times, the spokesperson for the Bahadurabad group claims that all remaining 15 MNAs on general and four on reserved seats were with the group. On Sunday, Sattar announced dissolving the Rabita Committee as members of the committee, in a statement issued from the Bahadurabad office, countered by saying that he was no longer the convener of the party. In a clarification issued on Tuesday, a Bahadurabad group leader said that the party’s constitution had vested all decision making powers with the committee, adding that the convener’s powers were delegative and not supreme. Monday’s developments suggest that the symbol of kite would remain with the group with majority of the Rabita Committee members in it. Asked about the electoral symbol at his office, a stressed out Sattar joked, “I will take the symbol of charkhi (wooden spool).” “They [the Bahadurabad group] were dreaming of hijacking the entire party but now I dare them to form a new party,” Sattar said, “There will be intra-party elections before we proceed to general elections this year.” Speaking to Daily Times MPA Khawaja Izharul Hassan said infighting was disheartening for activists, particularly those in jails. He said there was mistrust between the two groups and efforts were underway to reunite them but nothing could be said for sure. Barrister Farrogh Naseem of the Bahadurabad group was more emphatic, saying that there was no legal value of the general workers meeting addressed by Sattar on Sunday. “Sattar is not the party’s leader anymore. The MQM-P reserves the right to take legal action against him if he undertakes any unconstitutional measure.” “Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has submitted a resolution to the ECP that he is now the new party chief and convener,” he added MQM-P’s newly-selected convener Siddiqui said that elements who were after money and resources had been excluded from the party. “I will never become party convener in my entire life,” said Amir Khan, whose opposition to Kamran Tessori’s nomination for Senate apparently triggered the controversy between the two groups. He said it was unfortunate that he had been accused of splitting the party. “I don’t seek leadership. I will stay as a deputy convener for life,” Khan said. Besides Salman Mujahid who left PSP and rejoined Sattar, an MQM-London leader Saleem Shahzad has also lately reconsidered his loyalties and rejoined Sattar, throwing his support behind the PIB group. Talking to Daily Times on Monday, Salman Mujahid accused Amir Khan of hatching a conspiracy against the party. Commenting on the issue on Monday, PSP chief Mustafa Kamal said that rumours circulating about him trying to benefit from the current infighting were baseless. Pakistan People’s Party leader Saeed Ghani lashed out at Kamran Tessori, saying that destruction followed him wherever he went. Published in Daily Times, February 13th 2018.