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Mustafa Kamal lashes out at MQM chief Altaf in dramatic press conference
DAWN.COM — UPDATED ABOUT A MINUTE AGO
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KARACHI: Former mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal in a dramatic return to the city revealed for the first time his reasons behind his controversial exit from the Muttahid Qaumi Movement and criticised the party’s chief Altaf Hussain for what he called his poor running of one of Karachi’s strongest political parties.
"I had been a senator for a few months when I left my position, usually those who leave the MQM are kicked out but we left of our own accord."
He went on to state, "When the 2013 elections came, the Urdu-speaking citizens of Karachi gave more than 850,000 votes to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. But the MQM, due to its organisational structure, was the only party to bounce back while remaining in government for five years."
"Despite poor governance and performance between 2008 and 2013, the MQM was able to bag two more seats in the National Assembly in last elections."
"I thought the PTI was stealing almost a million votes from MQM's strongholds, which will make the party rethink its ways," added Kamal.
"Every time the MQM joined the government, its position deteriorated," Kamal stated.
"But Altaf sahab and the MQM instead of apologising, began verbally attacking PTI women activists at Two Swords."
Referring to the MQM supremo as “Altaf sahib” as compared to his earlier reverential use of “Altaf Bhai", he said Hussain was often intoxicated while addressing workers, and that his state worsened over time.
"Altaf gathered his workers and was intoxicated, when he addressed his supporters at 90 after the PTI achieved success during the 2013 elections," said Kamal.
Kamal said despite repeated requests, Altaf Hussain did not listen to advice by party leaders.
Kamal said Altaf was intoxicated when addressing the entire Rabita Committee, and nowadays positions in the Rabita Committee are changed in minutes. He added that people have sacrificed their lives and generations for Altaf Hussain, while we used to take responsibility of all his mistakes and actions.
'We tried our best to save Altaf'
"We tried our best to keep Altaf Hussain from being exposed. Initially, he used to be out of senses at night only due to excessive drinking but now such a state goes on for days and weeks," stated Kamal while shedding light on current state of party affairs.
"We staged a protest outside the Sindh election commission after elections just to 'cool down Altaf's temper."
Kamal went on to state, "He used words such as "thok dou" (kill them) for PTI workers and it became the Rabita Committee's job to explain and justify his statements in front of the entire world," said Kamal.
Referring to the many resignation presented by the MQM supremo, Kamal said the even the media doesn't remember how many times Altaf Hussain has resigned as party chief.
"We sacrificed for Altaf, did not distinguish between right and wrong, but Altaf does not care about his workers. Party workers deaths are used for point scoring only."
Referring to the loyalty of the party's supporters, Kamal said, "Ever since this party came into being, people have been losing their lives, we fought the establishment and the entire world just to save Altaf Hussain."
Talking about the current state of affairs of the party, Kamal stated, "Look at the raids, the arrests, and the ignorance. We accept that sacrifices have to be made, but what are these sacrifices for? Tell me, and I will make them too."
He further stated that these were all the things he tried to reverse for 5 years with in the party.
Kamal was addressing the press conference with Anees Qaimkhani.
The announcement corroborates speculations that there was rift between Kamal and MQM supremo Altaf Hussain, a rumour that was earlier not confirmed by either the party or Kamal.
Kamal returns
Earlier today, former mayor of Mustafa Kamal returned to Karachi after a prolonged absence from the political scene, alongside close aide and former party co-worker Anees Qaimkhani.
Kamal had told DawnNews that the conference will address political matters.
The former mayor belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) before he suddenly left the country in Aug 2013. The statement announcing his press conference had not made any mention of the MQM, with the press conference held at a private residence address in DHA Phase V as the venue.
After his departure, the MQM asked him to quit his senate seat.
The former Karachi nazim, who was elected to the upper house of parliament in 2011, was reportedly working for a construction company in Dubai, and remained in touch with some senior MQM leaders.
Read: Altaf’s call causes panic in Karachi
In an interview with Herald, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader had hinted at the reason behind Kamal's exit. “The moment Altaf Hussain feared that Mustafa Kamal will surpass him in popularity, he had him sidelined. That is not how political parties work.”
However, a statement issued by the MQM's Central Coordination (Rabita) Committee in Dec 2013 had said that Mr Kamal had gone abroad because of ‘personal and family problems’ and he had formally informed the party leadership before his departure.
The former city nazim once enjoyed a close relationship with the MQM chief
The statement also described all news reports about Kamal having developed differences with the party as ‘baseless and fabricated’ and said that he had sent his resignation to the party leadership in the first week of November 2013 citing personal problems as the reason.
The MQM has maintained silence over Kamal's departure from the party. In an interview with Geo last year, MQM supremo Altaf Hussain remained diplomatic when asked about his ties with the former mayor.
Anees Qaimkhani's name had recently surfaced in a joint investigation team report into the Baldia factory fire case that claimed the lives of 259 workers and caused injuries to 50 labourers in Karachi in 2012.
MQM reacts
MQM MNA Ali Raza Abidi on Twitter said Kamal's return was "the last and final card by Chaudhry Nisar", apparently hinting at a greater game behind the former mayor's return.
The party recently cried foul and alleged there is a conspiracy in place to malign the MQM after the Federal Investigation Agency registered a case against Altaf Hussain and other party leaders in the murder of former MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq.
MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, reacting to the development last year, questioned the ‘timing’ of the case, terming it "an attempt to malign the MQM".
A popular mayor
Kamal is often remembered for being a leader who took initiative during his time as mayor.
American magazine Foreign Policy, had counted Kamal as one of the best mayors in the world.
The magazine described the mayor of Karachi as an unlikely poster child for innovative urban planning.
It said the 36-year-old Mustafa Kamal governs a city thats more often in the news for religious violence than cosmopolitan ways. But the hard-charging Kamal is looking to change all that. Hes courting foreign investment, encouraging international ties, and boosting the citys tourism.
According to the US magazine, Kamal is not shy about his goals. He has said he wants to turn Karachi into the next Dubai. His Green Karachi project aims to plant thousands of trees in the city. Kamal is not letting anything stand in the way of his grand plans. He has threatened to arrest anyone who tries to cut down the new saplings, it added.
In a statement, the Nazim said that in the past there was no concept of ownership in Karachi. He said his administration carried out development works on a large scale, but added that lot of work still remains to be done.
Also read: Karachi`s nazim bids the city farewell
Mustafa Kamal was the last serving mayor of Karachi and after his departure the Commissionerate system was restored in Sindh province.
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DAWN.COM — UPDATED ABOUT A MINUTE AGO
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PRINTKARACHI: Former mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal in a dramatic return to the city revealed for the first time his reasons behind his controversial exit from the Muttahid Qaumi Movement and criticised the party’s chief Altaf Hussain for what he called his poor running of one of Karachi’s strongest political parties.
"I had been a senator for a few months when I left my position, usually those who leave the MQM are kicked out but we left of our own accord."
He went on to state, "When the 2013 elections came, the Urdu-speaking citizens of Karachi gave more than 850,000 votes to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. But the MQM, due to its organisational structure, was the only party to bounce back while remaining in government for five years."
"Despite poor governance and performance between 2008 and 2013, the MQM was able to bag two more seats in the National Assembly in last elections."
"I thought the PTI was stealing almost a million votes from MQM's strongholds, which will make the party rethink its ways," added Kamal.
"Every time the MQM joined the government, its position deteriorated," Kamal stated.
"But Altaf sahab and the MQM instead of apologising, began verbally attacking PTI women activists at Two Swords."
Referring to the MQM supremo as “Altaf sahib” as compared to his earlier reverential use of “Altaf Bhai", he said Hussain was often intoxicated while addressing workers, and that his state worsened over time.
"Altaf gathered his workers and was intoxicated, when he addressed his supporters at 90 after the PTI achieved success during the 2013 elections," said Kamal.
Kamal said despite repeated requests, Altaf Hussain did not listen to advice by party leaders.
Kamal said Altaf was intoxicated when addressing the entire Rabita Committee, and nowadays positions in the Rabita Committee are changed in minutes. He added that people have sacrificed their lives and generations for Altaf Hussain, while we used to take responsibility of all his mistakes and actions.
'We tried our best to save Altaf'
"We tried our best to keep Altaf Hussain from being exposed. Initially, he used to be out of senses at night only due to excessive drinking but now such a state goes on for days and weeks," stated Kamal while shedding light on current state of party affairs.
"We staged a protest outside the Sindh election commission after elections just to 'cool down Altaf's temper."
Kamal went on to state, "He used words such as "thok dou" (kill them) for PTI workers and it became the Rabita Committee's job to explain and justify his statements in front of the entire world," said Kamal.
Referring to the many resignation presented by the MQM supremo, Kamal said the even the media doesn't remember how many times Altaf Hussain has resigned as party chief.
"We sacrificed for Altaf, did not distinguish between right and wrong, but Altaf does not care about his workers. Party workers deaths are used for point scoring only."
Referring to the loyalty of the party's supporters, Kamal said, "Ever since this party came into being, people have been losing their lives, we fought the establishment and the entire world just to save Altaf Hussain."
Talking about the current state of affairs of the party, Kamal stated, "Look at the raids, the arrests, and the ignorance. We accept that sacrifices have to be made, but what are these sacrifices for? Tell me, and I will make them too."
He further stated that these were all the things he tried to reverse for 5 years with in the party.
Kamal was addressing the press conference with Anees Qaimkhani.
The announcement corroborates speculations that there was rift between Kamal and MQM supremo Altaf Hussain, a rumour that was earlier not confirmed by either the party or Kamal.
Kamal returns
Earlier today, former mayor of Mustafa Kamal returned to Karachi after a prolonged absence from the political scene, alongside close aide and former party co-worker Anees Qaimkhani.
Kamal had told DawnNews that the conference will address political matters.
The former mayor belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) before he suddenly left the country in Aug 2013. The statement announcing his press conference had not made any mention of the MQM, with the press conference held at a private residence address in DHA Phase V as the venue.
After his departure, the MQM asked him to quit his senate seat.
The former Karachi nazim, who was elected to the upper house of parliament in 2011, was reportedly working for a construction company in Dubai, and remained in touch with some senior MQM leaders.
Read: Altaf’s call causes panic in Karachi
In an interview with Herald, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader had hinted at the reason behind Kamal's exit. “The moment Altaf Hussain feared that Mustafa Kamal will surpass him in popularity, he had him sidelined. That is not how political parties work.”
However, a statement issued by the MQM's Central Coordination (Rabita) Committee in Dec 2013 had said that Mr Kamal had gone abroad because of ‘personal and family problems’ and he had formally informed the party leadership before his departure.
The statement also described all news reports about Kamal having developed differences with the party as ‘baseless and fabricated’ and said that he had sent his resignation to the party leadership in the first week of November 2013 citing personal problems as the reason.
The MQM has maintained silence over Kamal's departure from the party. In an interview with Geo last year, MQM supremo Altaf Hussain remained diplomatic when asked about his ties with the former mayor.
Anees Qaimkhani's name had recently surfaced in a joint investigation team report into the Baldia factory fire case that claimed the lives of 259 workers and caused injuries to 50 labourers in Karachi in 2012.
MQM reacts
MQM MNA Ali Raza Abidi on Twitter said Kamal's return was "the last and final card by Chaudhry Nisar", apparently hinting at a greater game behind the former mayor's return.
The party recently cried foul and alleged there is a conspiracy in place to malign the MQM after the Federal Investigation Agency registered a case against Altaf Hussain and other party leaders in the murder of former MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq.
MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, reacting to the development last year, questioned the ‘timing’ of the case, terming it "an attempt to malign the MQM".
A popular mayor
Kamal is often remembered for being a leader who took initiative during his time as mayor.
American magazine Foreign Policy, had counted Kamal as one of the best mayors in the world.
The magazine described the mayor of Karachi as an unlikely poster child for innovative urban planning.
It said the 36-year-old Mustafa Kamal governs a city thats more often in the news for religious violence than cosmopolitan ways. But the hard-charging Kamal is looking to change all that. Hes courting foreign investment, encouraging international ties, and boosting the citys tourism.
According to the US magazine, Kamal is not shy about his goals. He has said he wants to turn Karachi into the next Dubai. His Green Karachi project aims to plant thousands of trees in the city. Kamal is not letting anything stand in the way of his grand plans. He has threatened to arrest anyone who tries to cut down the new saplings, it added.
In a statement, the Nazim said that in the past there was no concept of ownership in Karachi. He said his administration carried out development works on a large scale, but added that lot of work still remains to be done.
Also read: Karachi`s nazim bids the city farewell
Mustafa Kamal was the last serving mayor of Karachi and after his departure the Commissionerate system was restored in Sindh province.
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