KARACHI, FEB 08 (DNA) – The internal rifts within Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have further deepened over issuance of Senate tickets as none of the party candidates could file the nomination paper.

The party leadership has apparently been divided into two factions over the issuance of tickets to the favourite candidates ahead of Senate elections on March 3.

Two separate party meetings were held on Wednesday to contemplate final names of the candidates for upcoming Senate elections, despite the efforts to convince MQM-P chief Dr Farooq Sattar and breach the deadlock over the names of candidates for Senate elections.

According to sources, both camps of MQM-P, under leadership of Dr Farooq Sattar and Amir Khan respectively, will submit the nomination papers of their candidates today (Thursday) as it’s the last day for filing of the nomination forms.

On the other hand, a total of 23 candidates from three political parties in Sindh have filed their nomination forms in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against 12 Senate seats- 7 general, two each reserved for technocrats/ulema and women and one for minorities.

As many as 20 candidates out of total 23 belonged to the ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), who submitted their nomination papers. Two candidates belonged to Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and one is from Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F).

MQM-P’s departing Senators

Four out of eight MQM-P senators, including Col (r) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Dr. Mohammad Farogh Naseem, Maulana Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi, and Nasreen Jalil will retire next month.

The party intend to contest for 12 Senate seats from Sindh. In the 168-member provincial assembly, MQM-P enjoys support of 50 lawmakers which makes it the second largest political party in the province.

Meeting to break deadlock ends on inconclusive note

Earlier on Tuesday, a meeting of senior leaders of MQM-P was held to breach the stalemate and eliminate differences within the party over the matter. However, the meeting ended on inconclusive note as no breakthrough was made over the issuance of Senate ticket to Kamran Tessori.

Following the meeting with Rabita Committee members over party differences, MQM-P convener Farooq Sattar said there were some matters in which the ultimate power of decision should be with the party head.

“We should learn the mechanism of resolving conflicts. Disagreements among brothers should not be made public,” he said talking to media outside his house at PIB colony on Tuesday night.

The differences surfaced among MQM-P party leaders on giving Kamran Tessori party ticket for Senate elections, the fact that has been denied by Farooq Sattar saying that it was not merely an issue of a Senate seat, it was far beyond that, he added.

However, he said, he was satisfied with the workers’ cooperation and Rabita Committee members’ assurance that “you are our senior and you are our chief”.

“Now that it has been decided that I am the head of the party, respect for the party head should be in heart. I do not want respect just verbally. My opinion should be respected,” he asserted.

“We are all brothers to each other. We are one. We have to establish our unity. After this meeting we will deliberate (on issues). We will hold a meeting in the day if some matter is left to be addressed,” he said.

The MQM-P chief said they did not want to give anybody a chance to feel rejoiced over their differences.

He said they had to improve the party situation further. They had never been in favor of any rift and they had to manage it from onward, he said.

He said people should differentiate between disagreement and division. He said Rabita Committee and its all members were intact.

“However, should I see any behavioral fault in party members, I will adopt strict action against it,” he warned.