Sindh governor clarifies remarks about 'Bhai's return' after MQM-P's 'concerns'

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has publicaly clarified his recent remarks about the "return of Bhai", a term used for Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain, saying that his comments were not about the London-based leader.

The controversy arose after video clips from an Independence Day concert at the Governor House showed Governor Tessori telling the crowd, “Mein bar bar keh raha hoon, tumharay bhai wapas aa rahay hain… tumharay bhai, Karachi ko theek karnay.” The remarks received with loud cheers when he asked if they wanted the “old MQM” back.

Days earlier, while speaking to reporters after visiting Bhit Shah, he had hinted at the “return of the old MQM” to restore its past standing, adding cryptically, “Apkay hosh urr jaey gey jo honay ja raha hay.”

Dawn, a leading English daily, reported that the remarks surprised MQM-Pakistan’s top leadership, which had severed ties with Mr Hussain after his controversial August 2016 speech, as well as influential quarters behind the unofficial ban on the MQM-London.

Also Read: Governor Sindh claims Altaf Hussain set to return to Karachi politics 

"Some elements within the party conveyed their concerns to certain quarters about the 'wrong message the governor’s remarks were sending across the party and the masses'," the newspaper quoted an MQM-P source as saying.

The governor later clarified that he followed MQM-P’s policy and that the party had categorically distanced itself from Mr Hussain.

“Altaf Hussain sahib has no role in MQM-P’s politics, and its leadership will not accept him back into the fold,” Mr Tessori said, questioning why his remarks were being linked to the exiled leader. “There is no policy on his return, and I will not speak against the party line.”