ECP punishes me for parting ways with Altaf, says Dr. Farooq Sattar

Ousted Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM) convener Farooq Sattar on Monday said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified him for parting ways with Altaf Hussain.

“I have been punished for parting ways with MQM founder Altaf Hussain and standing up for the constitution and law of Pakistan,” Farooq Sattar said while addressing a press conference in Karachi.

He was talking to media in Islamabad. “The verdict of ECP to oust me from the convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) is actually an effort to remove the party from Pakistan’s political landscape”, asserted Farooq Sattar."

Sattar also criticised Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Sardar Muhammad Raza for giving an ‘unconstitutional and unlawful’ verdict, adding that ‘such verdicts are quoted in history books for all the wrong reasons’.

He further said that a ‘conspiracy’ is being hatched against MQM-P in order to divide the party and oust it from power during the general elections in 2018.

“We will remember today as black day. We don’t accept the verdict of Chief Election Commissioner and the four-member bench”, stated disgruntled leader while adding, “ECP has never taken action on basis of conflicts within any party in the recorded history of the country. ECP does not have jurisdiction to initiate such proceedings”, Sattar apprised media personnel."

Farooq Sattar invited

Muttahida Qoumi Movement Pakistan’s (MQMP) Bahadurabad faction invited Dr. Farooq Sattar for talks following the verdict of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Addressing a press conference here in Karachi, Subzwari said that the party had wanted to resolve internal conflicts before the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision today, however, Sattar had insisted to wait for the regulatory body's verdict on the party's convener case. 

Sabzwari hoped that Dr Farooq Sattar would not challenge the verdict of the ECP to the upper court.

While terming ECP’s verdict a victory for their ideology, the leaders of MQMP-B expressed their desire to work with all stakeholders. Talking on the occasion, Khawaja Izhar stated that struggle of MQM wasn’t for individual interests.