MQM-P leaders say Shamim Naqvi’s appointment as Opp leader may strain ties

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan on Thursday warned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against selecting Shamim Naqvi as leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly, a private media outlet reported.

“His selection will definitely strain our ties with them [PTI],” he added. “We under any circumstances cannot accept Naqvi’s appointment and if by any chance he is given the position, it will definitely effect our alliance,” Hasan said, who is the former opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly.

“If statements like this continue to come out of the PTI ranks then it will be difficult to work together in the future,” the MQM-P senior leader said.

“Those politicians who target me, do it for their own political gains,” Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar said.

The reaction comes in the wake of Naqvi’s comments on August 5 in which he said, “We have joined hands with the MQM out of compulsion to reach 172 seats in the National Assembly.”

The MQM hit out at Naqvi, who is PTI Karachi president, calling for action to be taken against him.