Fazl tasked to convince MQM lawmakers to withdraw resignations

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah have requested him to convince Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers into withdrawing their resignations.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of leaders of parliamentary political parties with the prime minister, the JUI-F chief said that political leaders who attended the meeting expressed concern over the resignation of MQM lawmakers and the possibility of a resulting political crisis in the country.

He said that the prime minister and opposition leader requested him to contact MQM chief Altaf Hussain and the party leadership so that they withdraw their resignations and return to Parliament.

But the JUI-F chief said he clarified his position that once resignations are submitted, they cannot be taken back as per the spirit of the Constitution.

"This was the same position that we had over the earlier resignations submitted by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers," he said.

He said that he would consult legal and constitutional experts over the issue.

He said that if a space exists in the Constitution to withdraw resignations then he would make an effort to ensure that a political crisis does not develop in the country.

Later, the JUI-F chief spoke with MQM leader Farooq Sattar and discussed the situation arising in the country following the resignation of the MQM lawmakers.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman advised Sattar that MQM should remain part of parliamentary politics.