Rejecting the 'minus-one formula', Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) London's interim Co-ordination Committee member Professor Hassan Zafar Arif Saturday insisted that the party founder Altaf Hussain is no traitor and that he had apologised twice for his 22nd August anti-state speech. "MQM is the one that is led by Altaf Hussain," he said.

Amid strict security arrangements outside Karachi Press Club (KPC), MQM London's Rabita Committee leader Professor Hassan Zafar Arif told a press conference that workers of MQM are united under the leadership of Altaf Hussain.

He said the status quo forces had tried to disassociate people from Altaf Hussain but they miserably failed to do so. He was flanked by Advocate Sathi Ishaq and Kanwar Khalid Younus.

"They [the hidden forces] tried to implement the 'minus one' formula under the garb of Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) and MQM Pakistan but the people have rejected their move", he said and added, "not only is it [minus-one formula] non-implementable, it is also not possible".

He said MQM is the third largest party of Pakistan and it has successfully delivered to masses despite a slew of conspiracies against it. "It is impossible to delink Altaf Hussain from the people of Pakistan," he said.

He said, "Altaf Hussain is an integral part of the party." According to Professor Arif, they are holding this presser in order to respond to the 'minus-one' formula conspiracy. He insisted that there is no MQM London or MQM Pakistan, adding that Altaf Hussain is the sole Quaid of MQM and the party would remain united under his leadership.

He demanded of the government to unseal MQM's Nine Zero headquarters and other party offices in the city. He accused Dr Farooq Sattar and Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of "hijacking" the party. "They [Dr Farooq Sattar and Dr Khalid Maqbool] should form a party by some other name as MQM is the party of Altaf Hussain," he said.

He said that they would move the court on the MQM registration issue as the party is registered with the name of Dr Farooq Sattar.

"It is not true that the elected members of MQM are with Farooq Sattar. Majority of them are with Altaf Hussain and they would tender their resignations at some appropriate time," he claimed. He said PSP was launched with a view to stealing the mandate of MQM but that attempt appeared to have failed. He urged the authorities to release the detained workers of MQM.

On Friday, MQM-London announced the formation of a 12-member interim Rabita Committee, according to a press statement. The committee comprises Nadeem Ehsaan, Wasay Jalil, Mustafa Azizabadi, Professor Hassan Zafar Arif, Ishaq Advocate, Amjadullah Khan, Kanwar Khalid Younus, Ashraf Noor, Akram Rajpoot, Ismail Sitara, Idrees Alvi Advocate and Momin Khan Momin.

MONITORING DESK adds: A number of people who had gathered outside KPC raised pro-Pakistan and pro-Altaf slogans, according to different TV channels.

INP adds: Professor Zafar also dismissed the MQM-Pakistan, stating that there was no such thing. "MQM is one and will remain as one. Designs to break the party into factions will not be successful." He added the MQM had fought conspiracies in the past as well.

The MQM-London leader said that Farooq Sattar and other senior leaders of the party "illegally" ousted the MQM founder. He added that the 'operation' against MQM should also be brought to an end. Prior to the start of the news conference, heavy security consisting police and Rangers personnel deployed at the Karachi Press Club.