ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Babar Ghauri and Shamim Siddiqui announced on Sunday they are quitting the party.
The two leaders, both former federal ministers and currently based in the US, announced their resignations separately.
In a statement, Ghauri said he has resigned from his basic party membership and is relieving himself of all official responsibilities within the MQM.
He further said the reasons for leaving the party are purely personal, adding that he will not be joining any political party and group for now.
He has remained the federal minister for ports and shipping, as well as a lawmaker in the provincial and national assemblies, and the Senate.
When asked whether he is resigning from MQM-London, he said: “There is only one MQM and that is in London.” He added he has never been a part of the MQM that is working out of Pakistan.
However, he seemed sympathetic towards the creation of MQM-Pakistan, saying, “I understand why they did what they did”. He said it will be good if the MQM-Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP)’s merger succeeds as the Mohajir community is being neglected.
The MQM split into two factions after a controversial speech by Altaf Hussain in August last year
Shamim Siddiqui leaves MQM-London
Later, it was reported that former MNA Shamim Siddiqui has also resigned from his basic membership of MQM-London.
Siddiqui, presently based in Houston, has remained the federal minister of communication from 2004 to 2007. He said he has resigned from the party for personal reasons.
“My basic disagreement with MQM-London was Altaf Hussain’s role during the August 22, 2016 incident when anti-Pakistan slogans were raised,” he said.