Dr Farooq and Altaf are secretly in touch to save MQM from legal repercussions, says MQM leader
Fear of extradition moved Altaf to agree to the ‘disowning proposal’
While there are media speculations galore about claims made by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s new chief Dr FarooqSattar about having no links with party’s founder Altaf Hussain and the London Secretariat, the truth is that an Islamabad-based MQM senator is acting as a bridge between the two on endorsement of the self-exiled leader.
A well-placed source in the MQM has confided in Pakistan Today that following Altaf Hussain’s outburst on August 22; the top leaders of MQM in London and Pakistan were secretly in touch however in a coordinated manner to save the party from legal repercussions of the anti-Pakistan rant made by Altaf Hussain.
The claim by Dr Farooq Sattar to operate “independently” also carries blessings of MQM convener Dr Nadeem Nusrat, the source added.
The MQM leader says there is a new strategy in place, according to which, there is no direct link between Dr Farooq Sattar with the London Secretariat and the communication is being routed through an MQM senator residing in Islamabad.
“Altaf Hussain is directly and constantly in touch with a senator based in Islamabad” the source said.
“MQM Convener Dr Nadeem Nusrat is also in touch with the same senator who takes directions from Altaf Hussain who then passes it forward to Dr Farooq Sattar and others in Karachi,” the source said, requesting not being named due to the sensitivity of the situation.
MQM spokesman WasayJalil recently tweeted confirming that MQM could not act without Altaf Hussain.
The source said that the senator was also frequently in touch with a London-based Mustafa Azizabadi who is considered to be very close and loyal to Altaf Hussain.
Asked whether MQM senior leader Mohammad Anwar was also in touch with Dr Farooq and others through the same strategy, the source said that Anwar was hospitalised for some time and was away from political activities.
“Anwar is inactive for some time and is hospitalised for medical treatment. He is not on board” the source said and added that for the time being, the London leadership was avoiding any sort of direct contact with the party’s lawmakers or organisational structure in Karachi.
“The London leadership has decided to allow Dr Farooq to run the show for some time. However, their advice is being taken indirectly,” the source added.
Another source in the party told this scribe that Altaf Hussain was not on board with the sequence of events taking place in Karachi soon after his anti-Pakistan speech. Later, the following day, when Altaf phoned the senator, he was taken on board about the new strategy and was convinced not to disown Sattar’s new claim.
“Altaf was briefed on the legal repercussions of his anti-Pakistan slogans. He was informed that the entire MQM leadership might be tried under treason charges. But Altaf was more concerned when and if the Pakistani government could request him to be extradited back from London,” the source said.
The source said that under a fear of extradition, Altaf not only agreed to the ‘disowning proposal’ but he also offered to issue a statement to endorse Dr Farooq’s statement. However, the source added that Altaf was advised not to do so and keep silent for a few weeks till the matter settles down.
The source said that before the press conference, Dr Farooq was also advised to dodge queries about Altaf Hussain’s leadership, as any mention of his name might trigger controversy.
The source added, “Sattar was asked to deal with the matter prudently and offend neither the establishment nor Altaf Hussain. Had Sattar failed in doing so, MQM’s operational team, which works directly under London Secretariat, might have gone berserk and they might have unleashed a new wave of violence in Karachi’s streets”.
The MQM leader said that MQM’s youth is only loyal to Altaf Hussain and had Altaf disowned FarooqSattar or any other leader, it would have been difficult for Dr Farooq and others at Karachi and Hyderabad to save their lives from the emotional youth who only listen to Altaf’s orders.
“We did it in a bid to save Karachi. You might like it or not, Altaf Hussain rules the roost in Karachi, Hyderabad and elsewhere among the Mohajir community. No one else has any say in it,” the MQM leader added.
Asked whether the claim by Dr FarooqSattar and others to disown Altaf’s statement was a ploy to fool the Pakistani nation, the MQM leader said it was a sincere and genuine effort to save the party from legal repercussions.
“Since Altaf Hussain, in an emotionally charged state, had made an anti-Pakistan rant, no one agreed to it. Hence, we decided to disown the statement. No MQM worker or leader can even think of being anti-Pakistan,” the MQM leader said.
The MQM leader claimed that whosoever talks about minus-Altaf formula should understand that power given to Dr Farooq was actually minus-one and all should support him now.
“Dr FarooqSattar is now leading the MQM which has swept local body polls in urban Sindh. The success of MQM is the recipe to return to peace, development and economic stability in Karachi and urban Sindh,” the source added. MQM spokesman WasayJalil was not available for comment.
