Karachi: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is facing internal discord following the allocation of organisational positions, with several senior leaders expressing dissatisfaction.
This unrest led to a large protest by party workers at the Bahadurabad headquarters against the recent structural changes.
On Saturday, the party issued a circular announcing new organisational responsibilities, which intensified internal disagreements and triggered a strong reaction from workers and some leaders.
Senior leaders Anees Qaimkhani, Aminul Haq, and Dr Farooq Sattar were inducted into the Central Organising Committee.
Protesters at the Bahadurabad headquarters voiced their concerns, chanting slogans in support of party Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and against former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal. Some workers also raised objections 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 certain leaders being sidelined in the distribution of responsibilities. Reports suggest that some individuals even clashed with party officials during the protests.
Despite the turmoil, party leaders have attempted to downplay the crisis. Dr Farooq Sattar defended Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, asserting that “there is no need for a vote of no confidence against him, nor does the party’s constitution allow for such a mechanism.”
He emphasized the importance of unity within the party, warning that any split at this stage would be detrimental to all factions.
Sattar acknowledged the internal differences but stressed that these issues should be resolved internally rather than being aired publicly.
He further suggested that any misunderstandings stemming from the party’s merger agreements could be addressed 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.
