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The leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Wednesday announced an eventual merger between the two political forces and said that they will contest the 2018 general elections under "one name, one symbol and one party platform".
"The modalities of this alliance will be decided in the days to come," said MQM chief Dr Farooq Sattar while addressing the much-awaited joint press conference at Karachi Press Club.
"Today is a momentous occasion," MQM chief Farooq Sattar said as he began speaking.
"Pakistan, the province of Sindh and Karachi have been besieged in many crises. In particular, the parties active in Karachi and Sindh have felt that we not only have to address problems concerning Karachi and Sindh, but also those that concern the wider country," the MQM chief said.
"We should ensure that Karachi never faces the kind of political violence it witnessed in the past.
"We seek a good working relationship and a political alliance with each other, and this is what we wanted to talk to you all about.
"PSP and MQM had been deliberating these points in the recent past. We need good statesmanship at this juncture. To this end, we need a positive and combined effort," Sattar said.
The MQM chief urged that a united Karachi was necessary for Pakistan.
We will present the narrative of our aims and purposes after meeting each other and deciding on key points, he said.
The press conference faced continued delays as reporters and party workers have filled the Karachi Press Club beyond capacity.
Speculation has been rife that the two parties have finally found common ground and will be heading into the general elections next year hand-in-hand with at least a joint manifesto, if not an arrangement that brings them close to a possible merger.
Soon after news broke that the two parties would address the press together, MQM leader Rauf Siddiqui had asked the media not to speculate, assuring reporters that whatever decision the party takes will be communicated.
"Pakistan needs unity right now," he had said.
"Look at how the global situation is changing every moment," Siddiqui said, adding that all parties should "choose their words carefully" and "be on the same page" to enable peace in the country.
"We want to serve the people better," party chief Sattar had said as he arrived later at the party's Bahadurabad office, where he met party leaders for last minute consultations.
He had remained tight-lipped about the press conference scheduled for later that evening.
"We want all political parties to work together on a minimum common agenda. We also called a conference on this earlier. Be it the mayor of Karachi or others, we have always vowed to continue to work together," MQM leader Faisal Subzwari said.
"Farooq Sattar is going nowhere. We are going nowhere. We are here with our people," he clarified when asked about rumours that Sattar will step down as MQM chief.
"As far as I know, MQM Pakistan has called a press conference. We will go there, and you should come too," he told reporters.
"If there is a decision for the city's improvement which encourages unity, I personally think it is good for the country," MQM's Khawaja Izharul Hasan had said.
"Farooq Sattar will give a briefing in the party meeting and we will then make a final decision," he had said.
The MQM had severed ties with its founder, Altaf Hussain, after he referred to Pakistan as “a cancer for the entire world” in a vitriolic speech that sent shock waves throughout the country last year.
The party has since seen many defections to the PSP, with the latest being the city's Deputy Mayor, Arshad Vohra.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1369211/o...rty-mqm-psp-announce-plans-for-2018-elections
"The modalities of this alliance will be decided in the days to come," said MQM chief Dr Farooq Sattar while addressing the much-awaited joint press conference at Karachi Press Club.
"Today is a momentous occasion," MQM chief Farooq Sattar said as he began speaking.
"Pakistan, the province of Sindh and Karachi have been besieged in many crises. In particular, the parties active in Karachi and Sindh have felt that we not only have to address problems concerning Karachi and Sindh, but also those that concern the wider country," the MQM chief said.
"We should ensure that Karachi never faces the kind of political violence it witnessed in the past.
"We seek a good working relationship and a political alliance with each other, and this is what we wanted to talk to you all about.
"PSP and MQM had been deliberating these points in the recent past. We need good statesmanship at this juncture. To this end, we need a positive and combined effort," Sattar said.
The MQM chief urged that a united Karachi was necessary for Pakistan.
We will present the narrative of our aims and purposes after meeting each other and deciding on key points, he said.
The press conference faced continued delays as reporters and party workers have filled the Karachi Press Club beyond capacity.
Speculation has been rife that the two parties have finally found common ground and will be heading into the general elections next year hand-in-hand with at least a joint manifesto, if not an arrangement that brings them close to a possible merger.
Soon after news broke that the two parties would address the press together, MQM leader Rauf Siddiqui had asked the media not to speculate, assuring reporters that whatever decision the party takes will be communicated.
"Pakistan needs unity right now," he had said.
"Look at how the global situation is changing every moment," Siddiqui said, adding that all parties should "choose their words carefully" and "be on the same page" to enable peace in the country.
"We want to serve the people better," party chief Sattar had said as he arrived later at the party's Bahadurabad office, where he met party leaders for last minute consultations.
He had remained tight-lipped about the press conference scheduled for later that evening.
"We want all political parties to work together on a minimum common agenda. We also called a conference on this earlier. Be it the mayor of Karachi or others, we have always vowed to continue to work together," MQM leader Faisal Subzwari said.
"Farooq Sattar is going nowhere. We are going nowhere. We are here with our people," he clarified when asked about rumours that Sattar will step down as MQM chief.
"As far as I know, MQM Pakistan has called a press conference. We will go there, and you should come too," he told reporters.
"If there is a decision for the city's improvement which encourages unity, I personally think it is good for the country," MQM's Khawaja Izharul Hasan had said.
"Farooq Sattar will give a briefing in the party meeting and we will then make a final decision," he had said.
The MQM had severed ties with its founder, Altaf Hussain, after he referred to Pakistan as “a cancer for the entire world” in a vitriolic speech that sent shock waves throughout the country last year.
The party has since seen many defections to the PSP, with the latest being the city's Deputy Mayor, Arshad Vohra.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1369211/o...rty-mqm-psp-announce-plans-for-2018-elections
