MQM-Pakistan's internal rift surfaces over organisational reshuffle

• Party workers demand greater consultation in leadership decisions.
• MQM-P leadership divided over recent restructuring moves.
• Farooq Sattar urges unity to prevent MQM-P split.
  

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is facing internal strife following the allocation of organisational positions, with several senior leaders expressing dissatisfaction.

This discontent led to a large gathering of party workers at the Bahadurabad headquarters, where they staged a protest against the recent structural changes.

On Saturday, the party issued a circular announcing new organisational responsibilities. However, this move intensified internal discord, prompting a strong reaction from workers and some leaders.

Senior leaders Anees Qaimkhani, Aminul Haq, and Dr Farooq Sattar were included in the Central Organising Committee.

Protesters at the Bahadurabad headquarters voiced their grievances, chanting slogans in support of party Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and against Mustafa Kamal, the former Karachi mayor. Some workers also raised concerns over the lack of consultation before issuing the circular.

Sources indicate that MQM-P’s leadership remains divided over the restructuring. Workers expressed frustration over several leaders being sidelined in the distribution of responsibilities. Additionally, reports suggest that some individuals even clashed with party officials during the protests.

Despite the turmoil, party leaders have attempted to downplay the crisis. Sattar defended Siddiqui, asserting that “there is no need for a vote of no confidence against him, nor does the party’s constitution provide for such a mechanism.”

He stressed the importance of unity within the party, warning that any split at this stage would be detrimental to all factions.

Sattar further acknowledged internal differences but emphasised that these issues should be resolved internally rather than in the public sphere.

He suggested that any misunderstandings arising from the party’s merger agreements could be ironed out through dialogue.

Meanwhile, speculation has arisen regarding the role of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori in the recent decisions, as slogans were reportedly raised against him during the protests. However, some leaders denied that such incidents took place.