Fazl holds talks with MQM leaders at Nine Zero

KARACHI: The chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, during his visit to Nine Zero on Tuesday succeeded in persuading the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to hold a second round of talks over the resignations issue in Islamabad.
Fazlur Rehman, who has been appointed a mediator between the government and the MQM to convince the latter to review its decision on en masse resignations, arrived for the firsttime at Altaf Hussain’s residence. The Maulana also spoke to Altaf Hussain on the phone and asked him to take back the resignations.
Earlier, Fazlur Rehman was given a warm reception by the activists of MQM who showered rose petals on him but the joy was shortlived as the news of the attack on MQM MNA from NA-252 Rasheed Godil broke.
Fazl was received by senior MQM leaders Nasreen Jalil, Syed Sardar Ahmed, Aminul Haq, Waseem Akhter, Dr Farooq Sattar, Rauf Siddiqui and others. Haider Abbas Rizvi, who was out of the scene for sometime, was also amongst those who received the Maulana.
Despite the tragic incident, the talks were not stalled.MQM MNA Farooq Sattar said that the JUI-F chief came here as a mediator to woo the MQM to withdraw its resignations. He said the party will continue the dialogue process and the second round of talks will be held in Islamabad.
“We will consider his suggestion as we have all the respect for the Maulana,” he said. Sattar said that the MQM lawmakers would only take back their resignations after their issues were addressed. He said the MQM was never opposed to the Karachi operation but only wanted that it should be conducted impartially and transparently. The Maulana thanked Altaf Hussain and the Rabita Committee members for showing a positive attitude towards the dialogue process.
“It seems that certain forces are conspiring against the peaceful process of negotiations between the MQM and the government,” Sattar said adding that such tactics would not discourage the MQM’s aims and aspirations. He said the time of the attack chosen by the terrorists also raised many eyebrows.
Fazlur Rehman said that despite the unpleasant incident, the attitude showed by the MQM proved its good intentions. “Allah supports the people who are sincere and whose goals are clear.”
He termed the attack on Godil a cowardly act to sabotage the entire peace process and condemned the attack and prayed for the life of the fellow parliamentarian.The Maulana also met the families of the missing party workers at Nine Zero who conveyed their concerns to him. Fazlur Rehman assured them that these issues would be highlighted in the Islamabad meeting and emphasised upon holding an impartial investigation into the Karachi operation.