Imminent alliances?: MQM undecided on Tahirul Qadri’s Inqilab March

Haider Abbas Rizvi meets PAT chief, says protesting is the right of every political party.


Our Correspondent August 02, 2014

LAHORE:


Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi has said that his party has not made a decision yet to participate in Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) Inqilab March.


Talking to the media after meeting PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri at the latter’s residence in Model Town, Rizvi said the MQM has not decided to physically participate yet, although the party agrees with the reasons for holding the revolution march.



The extent to which we will be involved and its mechanisms will be brought forward in the coming days after consultation with the MQM Coordination Committee, he told journalists. Dr Tahirul Qadri has taken the MQM into confidence over many points and his party is deliberating over it, Rizvi added. “It is the right of every political party to stage a protest, but not to endanger the political system.”

He said allegations of rigging are coming from all parts of the country and a law is in place for the verification of votes.

Responding to a question about the government invoking Article 245, the MQM leader said the impact of the decisions taken by the prime minister and the federal cabinet can only be spoken about once the results come to sight. “Our paramilitary troops had already taken over parts of Islamabad to clear the area of militants. Article 245 was issued later and the results and ideas of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar will only come forward in time.”

Regarding the Model Town tragedy, Rizvi said he did not think that such an incident could occur in a city like Lahore, and if such a trend develops, it will be a point of concern. The Model Town incident should be a lesson for the government, he added.

In response to a question about the possibility of mid-term elections, Rizvi said he cannot say anything about this because no concrete policy has been issued from the MQM about the matter.

Speaking on the occasion, PAT Pakistan president Raheeq Abbasi said they are contacting different political parties about their participation and support in the Inqilab March, but no one has reached a decision yet.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2014.

COMMENTS (1)

Aysha M | 9 years ago | Reply

MQM must be processing, why call it indecision

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