KARACHI: Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Farooq Sattar has claimed that an ongoing rift within the party ranks was over MQM-P's leadership. 

A dispute between the PIB Colony and Bahadurabad factions had emerged on February 6 after both parties had taken different positions on the nominations of party members for the upcoming Senate elections. 

"My naive colleagues have proven that the issue was not about the nominations for Senate election, it was about the party leadership," a spirited Sattar told the journalists. 

"The conspiracy has been revealed and the cat has come out of the bag now," he said. "The issue was not over tickets for Senate seats, it was about taking control over the party itself." 

"A fitting response will be given soon at the KMC Ground today," Sattar told the media. "MQM - Haqiqi 2's foundation has been laid today." 

Responding to allegations of amending the party's constitutions without informing the Rabita Committee and taking, in his control, other rights, Sattar questioned how a 'powerful leader' like him was removed with such ease.  

"If I am the powerful leader that I was alleged to be, how did [they] remove me so easily," he said. 

"One cat has come out of the bag and many others will do so in the coming days," claimed Sattar.

'Sattar breached Rabita Committee's trust' 

MQM-Pakistan Rabita Committee removes Farooq Sattar as party convener

'Sattar changed party's constitution without bringing it into the knowledge of Rabita Committee'

The party's coordination committee had earlier announced the decision to remove Sattar as the party's convener.

"The Rabita Committee has decided to remove Dr Farooq Sattar as the party's convener," senior party leader Kanwar Naveed Jameel had announced in a press conference on Sunday evening.

"Farooq Sattar breached the Rabita Committee's trust," Jameel had said, alleging that the former party chief had changed MQM-P's constitution without bringing it into the knowledge of the central coordination committee.