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ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) self-exiled chief, Altaf Hussain, will address the party’s first-ever public meeting in Parachinar, the headquarters of the Kurram Agency, shortly in a bid to expand the party’s presence to the tribal belt as well.

“Altaf Bhai will address the people in Kurram Agency in the first week of May. The date is being fixed and programme is being given final touches. “Similar events are being planned in other tribal areas as well,” said Rana Wiladat Ali, who is MQM chief organiser in the tribal belt, while talking to The News from Parachinar on telephone.

Wiladat said he and some other party activists were working hard to make the MQM’s presence felt in this hitherto overlooked region and the people’s response had been more than encouraging.

The militancy factor, he noted, had been a stumbling block in the way of the MQM’s spread in the tribal areas. “However, with the military successes in recent times, the party looked forward to establishing its offices in other agencies in due course of time,” he added. “The MQM strongly feels that its appeal to the downtrodden and neglected segments of the society will definitely get a very good response in six other tribal agencies.”

Wiladat, a homoeopathic doctor working in Parachinar, belongs to Sialkot. He moved to the agency several years ago and was impressed by MQM policies. He claims his party would not remain confined to Sindh.

Blaming the government for the long-continuing siege of Kurram Agency by the militants, he said if these elements could be pushed out of Malakand Division, why not from the agency.