Dr Amir Liaquat, the off-and-on member of the MQM, has successfully pulled off perhaps the quickest party hopping in recent times.
Whereas a change in loyalties tends to take some doing and thinking, Amir Liaquat managed a complete change in a span of 48 hours or so.
At the hunger-strike that was being carried out by the party, when he was answering questions about the ‘minus one formula’, a taboo phrase within the MQM that suggests the party minus Altaf Hussain, he broke the phrase into its constituent parts.
“Minus Altaf is correct. My Nass,” he said, implying Atlaf is within his veins. “So, there is no way to work without a nass.”
Within two hours he was on Dunya TV after his party leader had said “Pakistan
Murdabad” and “Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism.” While he condemned the statement, he did not budge from the ‘bhai is still my leader’ stand.
After being arrested by Rangers soon after the Dunya TV appearance, he was released the following afternoon. He appeared on multiple TV channels and made confusing statements, some suggesting he has left the party altogether and will be leaving the country.
On another channel he said he would not be attending the much-awaited press conference to be held by MQM senior leader Farooq Sattar at Karachi press club.
Low and behold, mid way through the conference appeared none other that Dr Amir Liaquat sitting next to Dr. Sattar.
As soon as the conference ended, Amir Liaquat added his two cents, which was basically a reiteration of Farooq Sattar’s stance that the party would henceforth be run from Pakistan, MQM Pakistan. Minus Altaf, that is. An hour later, on ARY he said Farooq Sattar was his new leader, not Altaf Hussain.
