Karachi: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s lawmaker Syed Asif Hasnain Sunday left the party which is trying to disassociate itself from its de-facto chief Altaf Hussain.
Syed Asif Hasnain announced he was joining Mustafa Kamal’s Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).
“From today, I will have no connection with the MQM. I resign from my seat [as well],” he told reporters. “I have left MQM’s mandate because I want to work for Pakistan not against it.”
NA-255 Karachi seat
Hasnain represented the MQM in the National Assembly — won his seat from NA-255 Karachi in the 2013 general elections. The lawmaker urged other MQM leaders and members to leave their party and join the PSP.
“Don’t be afraid of anyone. Join the PSP and support Mustafa Kamal,” he said.
He was detained following raids on MQM’s offices after Altaf’s anti-Pakistan speech on August 22. Sattar in an interview claimed Hasnain was not in contact with the party since then. Asked if he was under pressure from Rangers after his detention, the former MQM member said it was not the first time he was held by law enforcers.
Commenting on Altaf’s decision to let Sattar run the party, Kamal said, “As long as he is alive, let anyone else lead his party. He killed whoever was capable of doing so. He killed Azeem Tariq. He killed Imran Farooq.”
The MQM chief had on Wednesday handed over the party to its Rabita Committee.
MQM leaders Farooq Sattar and Izharul Hasan on Saturday broke all ties with their party leader Altaf Hussain and emotionally denounced the arrest and detention of women workers and bulldozing of party offices.
“We have made it clear we have broken all ties with the MQM London (run by Hussain) and now only the MQM Pakistan represents the supporters and workers of the party,” Sattar, a Member of National Assembly and MQM deputy convener, said at a press conference.
- with inputs from agencies
