ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has agreed to withdraw its resignations from the National and provincial assemblies and the Senate following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government as it was agreed that a Grievance Redressal Committee would be set up to look into the alleged complaints of the MQM. The political settlement between the government and MQM was reached following a meeting of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid with MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar and the announcement to this effect was made at a news conference here on Friday evening. Under the MoU, the five-member committee would be notified within five working days. The committee would dispose of complaints within 90 days and present its report to the federal government. Addressing the press conference after the meeting, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and MQM parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that under the agreement, a five-member committee would be formed to come up with a solution to address the “complaints and grievances” of the MQM. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the understanding between the government and the MQM was a good omen for the supremacy of parliament and the Constitution. He said the PML-N government believed in national reconciliation for the sake of political stability, which is must for economic stability. He thanked the MQM leadership for its cooperation during the dialogue with the government. On this occasion, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the government showed political maturity during discussion. He expressed satisfaction over the talks. The MQM leader said their parliamentarians would start taking back their resignations from Monday. He said that they had supported the operation in Karachi for the sake of durable peace in the city. Senator Ishaq Dar said that the committee would decide its rules of business and procedure and was expected to come up with a report within 90 days, adding that the PML-N government believed in political reconciliation as it adopted the same approach earlier with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). “As far as I could understand the ruling of Raza Rabbani, the resignations of MQM lawmakers are not effective,” Ishaq Dar said. He said the MQM had a power base in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur. The finance minister said the Karachi operation had improved the law and order situation in the city, which also resulted in good economic activity during Eid. Replying to a question, the finance minister said the civil and military leadership were on the same page as far as the setting up of the Grievance Redressal Committee was concerned. To another question, he said the government and the MQM had not discussed anything about the party’s joining the government. Both the sides expressed gratitude to JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his role in the dialogue process.
