The policymaking body of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Rabita Commi-ttee, removed Dr Farooq Sattar from the post of party convener-ship as the protracted party crisis that showed some signs of subsiding on Saturday hit a new low on Sunday. Minutes later, an enraged Farooq Sattar dissolved the entire Rabita Committee by terming its action "illegal and unconstitutional". Rabita Committee is said to have appointed Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of the All Pakistan Mohajir Student Organization (APSMO) fame as new party convener.
The party has removed its another chief in less than two years. Party founder and chief Altaf Husain was forsaken by the party for his August 22, 2016 anti-Pakistan speech on August 23, 2016. Speaking to media at his PIB Colony residence, Farooq Sattar termed his removal from the party convener-ship a "structured plot designed by Bahadurabad group that deprived a loyal, hardworking, and deserving party worker of his due political right. According to him, "the foundation of MQM Haqiqi-2 has been laid down today... .I was forever the force obstructing the sell-off of Karachi and the empowerment of the qabza mafia."
Earlier, MQM-P Convener Kanwar Naveed Jamil at a press conference at party's Bahadurabad headquarters announced that Dr Sattar had been relieved of his position as convener with immediate effect.
He alleged that the mistakes committed by Dr Sattar had caused immense harm to the party and its image. For example, Jamil said that Sattar had allowed the cancellation of party registration by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Jamil also accused Dr Sattar of making some key changes in the constitution of the organization in a highly non-transparent manner to serve his interests. He asserted that senior members had resisted the inclusion of Kamran Tessori in the co-ordination committee earlier and now members were not in favour of granting him ticket for senate elections.
Later, addressing a party convention at PIB KMC Stadium, Farooq Sattar said, "The general workers convention has turned into people's court today." He added: "Those who were shedding crocodile tears yesterday showed their true colors today," referring to senior deputy convener Amir Khan.