MQM to withdraw resignations in phases

Karachi
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to withdraw its lawmakers’ resignations in phases, starting with Senate in the fist stage and then the National and Sindh assemblies.
Amin-ul-Haq, the MQM’s aspirant for the chairman’s slot in the local government elections and the head of its information committee, told The News that the party had agreed to take back its legislators’ resignations following the government’s decision to form a committee to address its grievances.
Leaders of both sides had signed a memorandum of understanding on the proposed grievances redressal committee.
It was agreed that the federal government would notify the formation of the committee for addressing the grievances of the MQM or any other political party or individual being harassed by a law enforcement agency or any other government institution.
To a question about the possibility of the committee dealing with complaints that were filed against the MQM by its rivals, Haq said he hoped that the party’s objections would be addressed honestly and impartially within the constitutional and legal framework.
“The committee would come up with results within 90 days and we are hopeful that it would not be influenced by any quarters,” he added.
Haq said the next Senate session would start on Tuesday, and the MQM’s senators would attend it after a gap of two months.
“The Senate chairman’s ruling that the MQM legislators’ resignations could not be accepted has also had a positive effect.”
Haq said the MQM lawmakers would return to the National Assembly when its session starts. Similarly, he added, the party’s MPAs would attend the Sindh Assembly session when its session was convened on October 18.
The MQM had tendered its resignations from the three legislatures on August 12 in protest against what it had described as a “discriminatory” operation being conducted by the law-enforcement agencies in Karachi against its activists and supporters.
“Our activists and supporters are still being arrested and raids being conducted at the party’s offices, but these issues will now be raised with committee.”