IHC reinstates Farooq Sattar as MQM-P's convener

Suspending Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reinstated on Thursday Farooq Sattar as the convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

According to local media reports, IHC Justice Amir Farooq suspended the ECP's decision and maintained that Sattar was MQM-P's convener until it decides on Sattar's petition challenging ECP's verdict.

The IHC directed the respondents Kanwar Naveed Jamil and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to submit their response in the next hearing. The court proceedings was then adjourned until April 11.

IHC gave the ruling after Sattar challenged in the high court on Wednesday ECP's decision, which had removed him as the MQM-P's convener. Sattar had termed ECP's decision a conspiracy to finish MQM-P.

Farooq Sattar challenges ECP’s decision in IHC

On March 26, ECP removed Sattar as the party convener after Bahadurabad faction of MQM-P  issued a petition. The petition challenged the intra-party elections held earlier in February. The Bahadurabad faction had termed the intra-party elections as illegal, in which Sattar was elected as the party chief.

Rifts between Bahadurabad faction and PIB faction of MQM-P had started when Sattar and Amir Khan had a disagreement over issuing Senate tickets. The rifts widened so much so that Bahadurabad faction removed Sattar as the party head. In return, Sattar held intra-party elections, which he won and was elected as the party convener.