AAMIR SAEED

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday gave Dr Farooq Sattar two days to submit his reply in a petition filed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Bahadurabad group for convener-ship of the party.

The infighting among party members over nominations for the upcoming Senate elections has resulted in emergence of splinter groups, led by Dr Farooq Sattar and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

Farooq Sattar’s lawyer Babar Sattar told the media that two applications have been filed with the ECP against his client, adding that he would submit a detailed response on the next hearing scheduled on March 1.

“The ECP has given us limited time to file the response,” he said, while his request to the Commission for more time was rejected.

Barrister Farogh Naseem, representing Bahadurabad group, reminded the Commission that the matter should be resolved before the Senate elections on March 3. Naseem insisted that the PIB-group has submitted its reply in the case.

The hearing was attended by Rauf Siddiqui, Aamir Khan and Waseem Akhtar of the Bahadurabad faction, while Syed Ali Raza Abidi, Syed Iqbal Qadri, Kamran Tessori and Kishwar Zehra represented the PIB faction.

Speaking to media persons outside the ECP office, Naseem said that Sattar was given notice 10 days ago but he did not appear in person. He claimed that 95 percent of the party was supporting Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. “He is duly the elected-convener,” he added.

“He (Siddiqui) was elected through a procedure that follows the party constitution,” Farogh Naseem said.

In his press talk, Babar Sattar informed media persons that a detailed reply on two-thirds majority and other claims will be submitted on March 1. He stressed that his client’s case is strong, terming the removal of Sattar unconstitutional.

“A party bearer cannot be removed without a show-cause notice,” he said, “Their [Bahadurabad group’s] claims are contradictory.”

Speaking to media persons outside the ECP, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the party’s Bahadurabad faction is open to negotiations. “This is a discussion on a few issues among brothers,” he said.

“We can solve this matter both through the ECP and directly,” he said.

Siddiqui further said that the ECP’s decision would be final one and acceptable by all parties to the petition.

Meanwhile, Kamran Tessori said that both the factions will accept the decision of the Election Commission. He added that one thing is clear between both the groups that the party will not be divided.