ISLAMABAD, MAR 25 (DNA) – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday removed Dr Farooq Sattar as convener of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P).

The decision has come on petitions filed by Bahadurabad faction of the MQM-P against Sattar, which included removal of Sattar as convener by two-third majority of the Raabita Committee and replacing him with Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and the other challenges February 18 intra-party elections held under the leadership of Sattar – an election that he won by a heavy margin, becoming the party convener.

The petitions were filed following a rift, considered to be the second biggest blow to the party after it parted ways with its founding leader Altaf Hussain in August 2016, between Sattar and Raabita Committeeover Senate nominees.