Musharraf trying to unify MQM

Speculations are rife that General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf has intensified efforts for unification of different factions of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as the former military dictator is keen on becoming their leader.

The speculation comes after unexplained visits of two senior MQM leaders to the United Arab Emirates in a short span of time, reports the Dawn.

Reportedly, senior MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui flew to Dubai on Friday where he met the former military dictator who is more than willing to unite the Dr Farooq Sattar-led MQM and the Pak Sarzameen Party led by former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal.

Before Dr Siddiqui, MQM-Pakistan head Dr Sattar also visited Dubai and returned on Friday. He told reporters at Karachi airport that he met neither Musharraf nor former governor of Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad during his stay in the UAE.

A spokesperson for the MQM, Aminul Haq, rejected reports of the meeting and said Dr Siddiqui was in Pakistan, adding, "He did not meet any politician, including Gen Pervez Musharraf."

He, however, confirmed that Dr Siddiqui, MQM's deputy parliamentary party leader in the National Assembly, visited Dubai for "less than 24 hours", but said his trip was strictly personal in nature.

A couple of days ago, the MQM, however, confirmed that its leader Khwaja Izharul Hasan met the former military dictator in Dubai.

The meeting took place after Ahmed Raza Kasuri, a trusted aide to Musharraf, suggested that different factions of the MQM, other than the one being led by Altaf Hussain, accept the former president as their leader.

The MQM-Pakistan had rejected the proposal.