Daily Times

KARACHI: Defections from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) ranks continue as two more women MPAs announced their decision to leave the party for Mustafa Kamal-led Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Wednesday.

Naheed Begum, an MPA from Sukkur, and Naila Munir, elected on a reserved seat, made the announcement in a press briefing at Pakistan House. They were accompanied by PSP chief Mustafa Kamal.

Naila Muneer said on the occasion, “I belong to a family of martyrs. I have been observing chaos in MQM-Pakistan for a long time. Nepotism and partiality has destroyed the party.”

She added, “PSP seems to value collective thinking, which is a trait severely lacking in MQM-P.” Naheed Begum said that since her student life, she had been active in politics, first from the platform of the All Pakistan Muhajir Students Organisation (APMSO) and then MQM. “I have been very honest throughout my time in politics, but MQM has disappointed me at every stage especially after August 22nd incident.”

“For me, PSP is the best platform because PSP has proved that they can do a lot for Karachi and its people,” she said.

Addressing the media persons, Mustafa Kamal called for an end to atrocities committed with the people of Karachi. “We don’t have any personal enmity with MQM,” he said, “I’m just concerned about the future of the youth of my nation.”

The PSP chief said MQM shared the primary responsibility, followed by the PPP, for the state of Karachi.

“People of Karachi always voted for MQM but the party did nothing for them,” Kamal added.

He reiterated his request to Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa to give amnesty to the youth of Karachi along the lines of schemes worked out for the youth of Baluchistan and FATA, though he did not clarify exactly what schemes was he referring to, and exactly what constitutional provisions allowed the COAS to offer such amnesties without directions from the Prime Minister or the Defence Minister.

“The youth of this city are not bombers or terrorist. We will not take anyone with such record in the PSP.” He said the population of Karachi and Hyderabad was misrepresented in the census, adding that injustice was committed in the delimitation of constituencies.

A number of women MPAs have in left the MQM-P ranks recently. Bilqees Mukhtar was the first woman MPA who left the party after Kamal announced the establishment of PSP. She was followed by former provincial minister Amber Khan. Then, Heer Soho left the party and joined the PPP.

Recently, Erum Azeem Farooqui leveled allegations of harassment against MQM-P leadership.

Published in Daily Times, March 29^th 2018.