Kamran Tessori, the MQM-P leader who rejoined the party in September, would become the next governor of Sindh today (Monday) in the Karachi swearing in ceremony. The decision to appoint him for the coveted slot came out of the blue in the political landscape of the country.

The businessman-turned-politician was accused of splitting the party and the expulsion of politician Farooq Sattar from the party, reports said.

Let’s have a look at his political career, life

Entry into politics

Tessori, who runs his family business of gold, started his political career with the Pakistan Muslim League-Q after making strong contacts with the then-Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim. But, he remained inactive when the curtain fell on the PML-Q government.

Later, he became close to the Pir Pagara Group and joined the Muslim League-Functional (ML-F) – another faction of the mother party.

Business

The 48-year-old politician runs the family business of gold and the famous shop “Tessori Gold” in Karachi’s Saddar area is owned by the Tessori family. It also runs the construction business in the city.

Tessori was one of the partners in the construction project of Tejori Heights, an under-construction building in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area 13-D, which was demolished in November 2021 as per the Supreme Court orders.

The apex court had issued the orders after the counsel for builders could not establish the ownership of the land being used for the construction of the residential complex.

Tessori joins MQM-P

Former MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar had brought Tessori into the party after the Aug 22, 2016, violent protest in which demonstrators had attacked an ARY News office in the Saddar area, which resulted in a clash between police and the angry mob. One person was killed and several others were injured in the incident.

The gold businessman was added to the Rabita Committee – the party’s main decision-making body – upon his entry, drawing sharp criticism from the workers. The reaction was subdued with a position that it was the decision of the party’s senior leadership.

Later, the MQM-P fielded Tessori in front of PPP leader Syed Ghani in the by-election for the provincial assembly seat in Mehmoodabad in 2017. It was the first election after the August 22 episode in which the MQM-P was defeated. Sources said that after this, Sattar was “adamant” to give a Senate ticket to Tessori in the 2018 elections of the upper house of Parliament.

Fissures in MQM-P

With the passage of time, Sattar and other MQM-P leaders’ disagreement on Tessori came to light. This difference increased so much that Sattar gave importance to Tesoori over other party leaders and separated from the party.

Tessori, 48, remained with Sattar for more than one year after partying ways with his former party. Later, he was not seen in the political landscape of the country.

Tessori is back

In September this year, the businessman-turned-politician rejoined the MQM-P and the leadership made him the deputy convener of the Rabita Committee. Next month, he was appointed as the governor of Sindh from the MQM-P platform, a seat that fell vacant after the resignation of PTI’s Imran Ismail with the ouster of Imran Khan from the prime minister office.

Who were the nominees for Sindh governor?

The MQM-P had suggested Abdul Waseem and Kamran Tessori’s names for the coveted slot, the party spokesperson said. President Arif Alvi gave approval to the name of Tessori on October 09.

However, sources told Aaj News on Sunday that the MQM-P leadership was “surprised” at the development as Tessori was not among the names recommended for the position.