LONDON, 12 MAY (DNA) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder and chief Altaf Hussain on Thursday resigned as the party head and handed over command to Farooq Sattar.

Sattar, the senior deputy convener of MQM, is a parliamentary leader of the party in the National Assembly. He was also elected Karachi’s mayor and served the city from 1987 to 1992.

Altaf had formed the student organization All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization in 1978 that subsequently gave birth to Muhajir Qaumi Movement in 1984. In 1997, the MQM officially removed the term Muhajir from its name and replaced it with Muttahida in a bid to gain foothold in other parts of the country.

Later, London-based MQM leader Mustafa Azizabadi turned to Twitter to clarify Altaf’s announcement, saying that the party chief had only shared his sentiments with the party workers.

“Quaid-e-Tehreek Altaf Hussain in his address talked about his stepping down as the party head, but all the workers have rejected it,” he said.

Workers have requested the party chief not to quit but Altaf Hussain said that it was time for Farooq Sattar to lead the party. DNA

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