Merger deal by establishment but upon Sattar request, claims Kamal

Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Chairman Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Mustafa Kamal has said that establishment was behind “one name, one manifesto and one symbol” deal between his party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan but the deal, he claimed was struck on the request of MQM-P Chief, Dr Farooq Sattar.

Addressing news conference at Karachi here on Saturday, the PSP Chief said; “Today I want to disclose that establishment had arranged our meeting with Farooq Sattar and when we reached there Farooq Sattar was already present. We were invited at the request of Farooq Sattar.”

“The entire team of Farooq Sattar and he himself had been inviting us through establishment for talks,” he further disclosed. “Which journalists, anchor, politician or business doesn’t talk with establishment?” he said, adding that he had been saying it from day one that he is talking to establishment.

“I talk to establishment but I am not an agent. Had I been agent I would have not left the senator seat in 2013. He we called them we would have been there before him,” he said. The PSP chairman criticized the media and others for “creating a perception” that Sattar was abducted and forced into conducting a joint press conference.

“The conference took place in front of everyone and the media. Yet such a perception was created. Governor Sindh also claimed Sattar was abducted and forced to give the press conference,” he said. Kamal added that Sattar has been giving the impression that whatever decisions PSP takes is at the behest of the establishment.

“Sattar has been meeting us through the establishment since eight months,” he said, saying that the developments are not just 48 hours-long.

“I had even offered MQM-P that I would dissolve my party but said I don’t want to merge with MQM-P. Sattar said he doesn’t want PSP to dissolve, but asked me to merge instead. I refused as I believe MQM is still the party of Altaf Hussain,” Kamal said.

Kamal in a jibe at Sattar said that his mother had passed away but had she been alive he would never drag her into politics nor hide behind her. Kamal concluded his press conference by once again inviting MQM-P for talks, saying he is ready to hold discussions for the sake of lasting peace in Karachi. “There is no deadlock, we are ready for talks,” he said.

Meantime, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Dr Farooq Sattar on Saturday afternoon said that the party has set itself anew with educated people.

“We have left behind August 22, 2016, and cleaned the party of disruptive elements,” the MQM-P chief said. Sattar marched on foot from Liaquat Ali Khan chowk on foot to reach the Yadgar-e-MQM-Shuhada.

Speaking to journalists at the Liaquat Ali Khan Chowk, Sattar said he was going to Yadgar-e-MQM-Shuhada after one year. He added that MQM-P had freed the party of allegations of torture.

Sattar offered Fateha at the graves of the party’s martyrs memorial and laid floral wreaths. He was accompanied by the party’s leadership including Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar, Kamran Tessori, Faisal Subzwari and others.

Speaking to journalists after the visit to the memorial site, MQM-P leader Nasreen Jalil while responding to a reporter’s questions, cited Farooq Sattar’s earlier press conference and said that the offer for talks still stands.

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Faisal Sabzwari on Saturday said that his party does not want to merge with any party.

“In order to have a political alliance with PSP, we made serious efforts to move forward but PSP Chairman Mustafa Kamal wasted the chance,” Sabzwari said while addressing a press conference in Karachi.

“We don’t want a merger with the PSP,” he declared, adding that it was the PSP that wanted to merge with MQM-P.

Continuing to lash out at Kamal, Sabzwari spoke against Kamal’s earlier statement that politics in the name of Muhajirs should end, stating that he should have said that injustices against Muhajirs should be brought to an end.

“People will remember your claims from today and those you made before,” he said, referring to Kamal’s recent statements. “People will remember your claims in the coming elections.” Sabzwari also claimed that ninety percent of the workers are in contact with the party, and will return to the MQM-P when they are not ‘being pressurised.”

Discussing the recent census results, he said that MQM-P raised its voice against the census and approached the courts. “Our wish is that justice and better governance prevails in Sindh and Pakistan, and we feel that the Pakistan Peoples Party has failed to do the same in the province,” Sabzwari said, adding that his party only wishes to establish an effective local body system.

In reference to Kamal’s press conference earlier today, Sabzwari remarked that PSP’s media talk had damaged its repute and it would become evident in the approaching elections. Written notes confirm PSP, MQM had agreed on “one name, one manifesto, one symbol”

Meanwhile, the Handwritten notes by leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly and senior MQM Pakistan leader, Khowaja Izharul Hasan, confirms that content shared with media during press club presser was agreed by both Dr Farooq Sattar-led MQM-P and Mustafa Kamal-led Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).

“[We] have decided to get united by pursuing a policy of non-conflict and nonviolence in order to save the mandate from being divided in the best interest of province and city”, reads the notes, which sources claimed were written by Hasan during the meeting.

“Leadership of both political parties will take party in next elections Insha’Allah under “one symbol, one name and one manifesto” for the development and progress of the city and province,” reads the notes, a copy of which is available to The Frontier Post.

The workers are advised to play their role in making this joint and positive effort successful, the notes further reads, adding that; “The next line of action will be shared with media for public awareness after it’s decided by leadership with mutual consultation”.

It’s pertinent to mention that Farooq Sattar backtracked from the alliance for contesting new general polls under one manifesto, one name and one symbol after his party members revolted. Sattar claimed he was being deceived by Mustafa Kamal.