Altaf enraged at MQM-Pakistan: sources

LONDON: Altaf Hussain, the exiled founder of the Mutttahida Qaumi Movement, is extremely upset with the Pakistani chapter of the party for supporting a resolution against him in the National Assembly which unanimously and unequivocally condemned him for his anti-Pakistan remarks and incitement of violence against media.

Details of Altaf Hussain's stance and his medical condition were revealed tonight on Geo News show Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath.

Several trusted sources this correspondent spoke to for background interviews have confirmed that the MQM's London-based founder is simply stunned and shocked at the developments that have taken place in Pakistan following his highly controversial speech on 22nd August—and that he has alleged his Pakistani colleagues of being "traitors".

As soon as MQM Pakistan prepared the resolution and agreed to remove the party founder's name from the constitution as well as the party literature, Altaf Hussain couldn't take it anymore and started dialling numbers of the MQM party leadership in Karachi but none picked received his calls, sources have told Geo News.

Trusted sources in Pakistan and London revealed that Altaf Hussain managed to speak to one MQM senator for about half an hour and expressed his extreme anger and frustration. The senator, whose name cannot be revealed on the request of the sources, tried to explain to Mr Hussain how things had become very difficult for the MQM after August 22 and that the MQM-Pakistan had no choice but to do what Farooq Sattar and Company were doing, but Altaf Hussain would not have any of it.

"Those who have passed the resolution against me are traitors. They are ghaddar (traitor), it's simple. They have stabbed me in the back. They should have fought back, but they chose the easy path out. They have tried to hijack my party literally and stabbed me in the back. This is just too much and now they are doing everything to execute the minus-Altaf formula," a furious Altaf Hussain told the senator, according to the sources.

The senator calmly told Hussain that now was not the time to be unrealistic, but Hussain kept on asking for "resistance against the complete elimination of the founder and leader from the MQM" by the workers and the leaders. The senator reminded Hussain that he had himself asked the Rabita Committee to control the situation and make decisions while he will "concentrate on his health issues but Hussain retorted that he did not think at the time that the MQM-Pakistan would go on to eliminate him.

Everyone within MQM in London and Pakistan agrees that Mr Hussain will not remain quiet for a long time.

"It's like a ticking time bomb. He will erupt anytime soon. It's not possible for him to remain quiet and when he speaks, he will blast the Rabita Committee in Pakistan,” said a source.

Sources in MQM confirm that the MQM leaders in UK, South Africa and America are in contact with the second-tier Karachi-based leaders, but the first tier leadership is avoiding any contact at this stage.

When asked for a comment on the August 22 speech of Altaf Hussain, a Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We are assessing the content of a speech given by an individual associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in August 2016 to ascertain if any crimes have been committed under appropriate UK legislation. Where evidence of criminal activity is found, we will consult with the Crown Prosecution Service. The actual attacks in Karachi are being investigated by the Karachi authorities.  The investigation into other speeches previously broadcast in Pakistan by this individual is ongoing. We would not put a time limit on any process within an investigation, we will continue to work diligently on the ongoing investigation and thoroughly investigate all of the evidence that is connected with it."