Rumours are abounding that Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed is returning to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). While the Haqiqi leadership claimed the MQM proposed Ahmed to return to the party, the MQM denied of any such proposals. It is pertinent to mention here that Ahmed – whom the Sindh High Court had granted bail on Monday – was expected to be released on Tuesday, but his party activists have not been able to collect Rs 1 million of the surety bond against which the bail was granted. Moreover, Ahmed was shifted from the Karachi Central Jail to the Malir District Jail on Tuesday night over security concerns.
According to sources, Aamir Khan – who had left the MQM along with Ahmed, and recently went back to the MQM – has been handed the task of bridging the differences between Ahmed and MQM chief Altaf Hussain. However, the central leaderships of both the parties have different views over Ahmed and Hussain’s relationship in the future.
Haqiqi Vice Chairman Shamshad Ghauri said the MQM chief has been offering the Haqiqi chief to return to the party for the past four years, but Ahmed has neither accepted nor rejected Hussain’s offers. There are no plans to merge the Haqiqi faction with the MQM, but the former would make the final decision after Ahmed is released, Ghauri said.
On the other hand, MQM Central Information Committee member Wasay Jalil strongly rejected Ghauri’s claims regarding MQM offering Ahmed to come back to the party. Jalil said there has been no communication between the two parties. He also denied rumours of Khan’s task of bridging the gap between Ahmed and Hussain, terming the claim as baseless. He stressed the MQM does not believe Ahmed would return to the party.
Ghauri said some Haqiqi activists, who had recently joined the MQM, were trying to come back to the party after Ahmed’s bail. “We shall decide their fate in a meeting to be held later. However, I think the party leadership will have no objection in accepting those who had left due to uncertainty over the political situation,” he added.
Responding to a question regarding Khan and Nadeemul Islam’s return to the Haqiqi faction, Ghauri said the party has yet to decide about them. “Neither do we think they’ll come back to the party nor have we been in touch with them,” he added.
Talking about Ahmed, he repeated “we received justice from the court and no favours from anyone” thrice for emphasis. He said the Haqiqi faction is busy completing legal formalities to ensure their party chief’s release. He also said, “We are trying our best to arrange the bail amount and submit it in the court as soon as possible.” The money would surely be arranged as Ahmed’s friends, relatives and party activists are making all efforts to see him out of prison, he added.
