Musharraf asked us to form a new party after August 22, claims Sattar

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Farooq Sattar has claimed that Pervez Musharraf asked him to form a new political party following the August 22 incident, which he and Mustafa Kamal could also join.

Speaking to the anchorperson on Geo News' programme 'Jirga', Sattar said Musharraf does not have any contacts with Altaf Hussain. Referring to his decision of breaking away from the London-based MQM leadership, he said the former president contacted and backed his September 23 decision.

"Musharraf allowed local bodies to work in his tenure; I invited him to join the party," the MQM-P chief revealed during the programme, adding that Khawaja Izhar also conveyed the same to Musharraf on his behalf.

But the former president asked him to form a new political party, which he and Mustafa Kamal could also join, he added.

"Our workers accepted parting of ways with London-based leadership, but their romance with the name Muttahida Qaumi Movement is still there. They cannot leave this name."

He denied that Musharraf was displeased with them.

Commenting on the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief, Sattar said Kamal had a soft stance before he went to perform Hajj, but his behaviour changed afterwards. "He also took one of our MPAs away."

The MQM-P chief went on to say that it is impossible for his party's activists to accept an "external" leadership, however, such people may have a role in the party's consultation and supreme councils.

He said the division of Karachi's leadership was unacceptable to him, adding, "Altaf Hussain shot himself in the foot."