ISLAMABAD: MQM leader Farooq Sattar on Wednesday said the MQM’s resignations are an expression of lack of confidence in the current political and administrative structure. Talking in the Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Sath” on Wednesday, he said all the MQM lawmakers had tendered their resignations voluntarily. “The decision to resign from the assemblies was made after detailed consultations and Altaf Hussain endorsed it.” He said they knocked on the doors of all political forums, the army chief and corps commander, Karachi. He said the Rangers and MQM were trading allegations, so a third party was needed to decide the matter. He demanded that the prime minister form a parliamentary committee to resolve the issue. He said thousands of MQM activists had gone underground out of fear. He objected to the FIRs lodged against the party for the recovery of weapons from 90. He said excessive use of force was no solution to problems and the MQM was being targeted on the basis of a Supreme Court decision. He said peace had returned to Karachi when safe passage was given to criminals like Baba Ladla, Ahmed Ali Magsi and Uzair Baloch. He said Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan should heal the MQM wounds instead of rubbing salt into them. Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi said the meeting between the MQM lawmakers and the National Assembly (NA) speaker was not pre-arranged. He said the speaker did not accept the resignations, rather sent them for processing, which may take one or two days. He said the MQM lawmakers could withdraw their resignations if they make it public that reasons for the resignations have been removed. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said no notification for the acceptance of resignations had been issued. He said the MQM had reacted childishly and its decision to tender resignations was a disappointment. He said it was the government’s duty to give relief to the people in case of injustice. He said the government would resolve the issue while remaining within the limits of the Constitution if the MQM was being wronged. He said the statements of Farooq Sattar and Altaf Hussain showed their willingness to take back their resignations if the issues were resolved. He said if he were the NA Speaker, he would have also insisted that all members come to his chamber one by one to confirm their resignations. PTI’s Faisal Vawda said Altaf Hussain had failed to reply to a UK court about the money recovered from his house and office. He said the MQM resignations were a smokescreen to divert the attention from this topic. He said the Rangers were arresting criminals and not supporting the PTI. He said the government will not accept the MQM resignations, as the party had the track record of going out and coming back into the assemblies. He said the MQM got funds from the RAW and had invited India and Nato to interfere in Pakistan’s affairs, which was why nobody will vote for it. He said Altaf was seeing an end to gun politics.
