Daily Times

KARACHI: Days after Muttahida Qaumi Movement attracted the wrath of the security establishment as well as the common people over Altaf Hussain’s anti-Pakistan comments, another party heavyweight from Karachi jumped on Mustafa Kamal bandwagon on Sunday.

Rejecting Farooq Sattar’s announcement that the MQM was dissociating itself from Altaf Hussain, MNA Asif Hasnain announced to join the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and hoped that many more will follow him.

Addressing a press conference at Pakistan House, Hasnain said he considered August 22 a ‘black day’ in the history of the country when Altaf Hussain raised slogans against Pakistan. “I have come to know that Farooq Sattar has disassociated the party from Altaf Hussain. Farooq Sattar is not capable of disconnecting himself from London and Altaf. He still addressed Altaf as ‘quaid’ which deeply upset me and left me with no option but to part ways with them,” he maintained. “I was not pressurised to join PSP. I simply cannot support those who raise slogans against my country, for which my forefathers gave immense sacrifices,” he added.

Hasnain implied Farooq Sattar received ‘instructions’ over Skype from the MQM supremo as party members conferred at a local hotel prior to Tuesday’s press conference during which Sattar announced that the party was ‘sidelining’ Altaf Hussain.

Hasnain was arrested by Rangers at the Karachi airport when he was about to board a flight. He was released hours later but did not make any media appearance. Speaking on the occasion, Mustafa Kamal invited others to join the PSP. “Our doors are open. If you have a problem with Altaf, leave the mandate. It is not your mandate, it is his mandate.”

PSP chief was critical of Farooq Sattar’s announcement that the MQM had completely disassociated itself from the party’s London-based supremo. “This is a fixed match. There is understanding between Farooq Sattar and Altaf Hussain,” he alleged.

He said after Altaf’s earlier speech, Farooq Sattar claimed that the MQM had distanced itself from him (Altaf Hussain). Kamal rejected MQM’s statement that the party chief was taking time to take rest for his health. “Altaf is making speeches around the world… Farooq Sattar said he was resting, but he’s making more phone calls than Sattar,” Kamal claimed.

“They are lying even today. We know Altaf’s DNA well. As long as he is alive, he will never let anyone else lead his party. He killed whoever was capable of doing so. He killed Azeem Tariq. He killed Imran Farooq,” the PSP chief alleged.

“Farooq Sattar now has more security guards where ever he travels. He sleeps in a five-star hotel instead of his house. Who is he hiding from? The Taliban? He’s hiding from Altaf,” Kamal said. “People who are still part of MQM in Karachi and London are there because they’re trying to save their jobs. They are afraid as they’ll lose all their perks and privileges,” the PSP chief said.