KARACHI - Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) is facing a crisis like situation after disassociating itself from London- based leadership.

The party has failed to remain intact and once again rifts have begun to appear within the party as two major groups led by Dr Farooq Sattar and Amir Khan are at odds with each other.

Sources revealed to this scribe that both groups were once again in the run for gaining an upper hand whereas this tussle had created panic among the workers.

Both these groups are trying different means to raise their influence in the party before the upcoming general elections.

According to sources in MQM-P, the tug of war between the party leaders has entered a new phase despite a settlement reached between them few days ago at the coordination committee’s meeting which was hurriedly convened by Dr Farooq Sattar in order to woo Amir Khan.

He also had to cancel his scheduled trip to Lahore to meet Dr Tahirul Qadri due to coordination committee’s meeting.

The new differences emerged after the Amir Khan group used posters of Amir Khan along with Quad-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah at a hockey match on December 25, 2017, raising fears in members of Farooq Sattar group that he might be doing this in an attempt to wield more influence. Members of the Sattar group called for taking disciplinary action against Khan, saying it was against the norm of MQM-P which shunned the display of photos of party leaders at any event.

The sources said that the issue had surfaced because the MQM-P was yet to decide as to who would be leading the party in the next general elections. “Both Amir Khan and Dr Farooq Sattar are using their influence to pave the way for their takeover of the party’s leadership before the elections.

It is pertinent to mention here that at the time of MQM-P and PSP merger, Amir Khan, who is the Senior Deputy Convener in the party, had expressed annoyance over the move. Khan had not only rejected Sattar`s stance, but had also stated that he was not taken into confidence before taking the decision.

Apart from that, MQM-P workers and leaders were also not happy with the induction of Kamran Tessori, who was in the past affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, as party’s deputy convener. Furthermore, MQM-P’s decision making body, despite expressing confidence in the leadership of Dr Farooq Sattar, had rejected many policy decisions taken by him, stating that they were not taken on board before their announcement, and that these were taken by Sattar on his own or in consultations with his close aides.

MQM-P Coordination Committee member Ameen-ul-Haq, while talking to The Nation, said that the event was organised by Karachi Hockey Association and MQM had nothing to do with posters displayed on the occasion.

“There are no differences between party leaders and all decisions in the party are taken after consultative process,” he said, and added that MQM was united and would contest the next general elections under the leadership of MQM chief Dr Farooq Sattar.