Daily Times

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM’-P) martyrs’ families Tuesday staged a demonstration against the party’s “reconciliation” with the Awami National Party (ANP) over seat adjustment in difference constituencies.

They also voiced their concern over the party’s “patch up” with Afaq Ahmed-led Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H).

A woman whose brother was killed when he was an MQM worker asked Wasim Akhtar and Amir Khan, “Why ANP assassinated my brother and why are you interested in shaking hands with Shahi Sayed?”

“How could you shake hands with killers?” she questioned.

Agreement on political reconciliation between the MQM-and ANP has taken political pundits by surprise as both the parties have been at loggerheads for the last many years.

“We aim at reconciliation so as to work for confidence building measures among various communities,” said Farooq Sattar and Asfandyar Wali during a joint press conference held on June 30 at Mardan House after a gathering of the leaders.

Reacting to the allegations, MQM-P spokesperson Kashif said that the woman protesting against MQM-P was actually perturbed over ticket distribution. “She is trying to defame the MQM-P and has been provoked by Shahid Pasha. The MQM-P has already kicked him out of the party.”

He, however, said: “There is no official reconciliation between the MQM-P and the MQM-H.

Published in Daily Times, July 4^th 2018.