Altaf asks MQM workers to decide his fate in online poll

MQM chief Altaf Hussain, who has been declared an absconder by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court, has turned to a poll on the party website to decide his fate as its supreme leader.
A post on the MQM website (www.Mqm.Org) today asked the party workers and supporters to give their votes on whether Altaf Hussain should step down as the chief or not.
Hussain has posted the question to his workers and supporters: 'To save the party and the people, should I step down from the movement?' Along with the question, the options of clicking Yes, Never and Don't Know have been given.

Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali yesterday said that the government would no longer tolerate what he termed hate speeches from the MQM chief against the armed forces and claimed with his speeches had shown he was working against the state.
Nisar had said the government would now pursue legal action against Altaf who is self-exiled in London since 1992.
This is not the first time that the MQM chief has talked about stepping down as speculations are rife in political circles that the government and establishment want a MQM minus Altaf.
The MQM chief and his party have been of late under scrutiny both within and outside Pakistan and he is facing money laundering cases in the UK and Pakistani authorities are also cooperating with the British police in the investigations into the murder of former MQM stalwart Imran Farooq.

The MQM remains the single largest party in Pakistan's biggest city Karachi and has dominated all general and local bodies elections held since its inception.