KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Syed Ali Raza Abidi, once a staunch supporter of party, has tendered his resignation from basic membership of MQM-P.

He sent his resignation to party convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and also posted a picture of it on Twitter.

“This is to bring to your attention that I will not be able to continue participation with MQM Pakistan due to personal reasons,” Abidi wrote in the twitter.

MQM-P had filed nomination papers of Faisal Sabzwari for by-elections in NA-243 by ignoring Ali Raza Abidi.

However, Abidi while sharing his handwritten resignation on twitter confirmed he stepped down from basic membership of MQM-P over personal reasons.

Earlier in 2017, Abidi rejoined MQM-P due to Farooq Sattar’s efforts. He had resigned from National Assembly seat after quitting MQM-P over merger with Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).

Abidi has been a staunch supporter of the MQM since his college days. His father was also an MQM supporter and was elected as an MNA on the party’s ticket.

Speaking to a private television channel, Abidi said he was being punished for being associated with the party’s PIB faction. Earlier in the year, the party was divided into two new factions – Bahadurabad and PIB. The latter was headed by former convener Dr Farooq Sattar.

The two factions reunited before the general elections. Abidi contested the election from NA-243 but lost to PTI chief and now Prime Minister Imran Khan. In the last election, he was elected to the National Assembly from NA-251 Karachi.—NNI