According to a press release issued by the MQM, the decision was taken during a meeting of MQM's Pakistan and London Coordination Committees on Friday.
During the meeting, the coordination committees decided to postpone the referendum, keeping in view the fact that leaders and elected representatives of MQM meet several ulemas before the start of Muharram to promote unity among different sects.
The new date for the referendum will be announced later, said the press release.
The referendum, initially scheduled for November 8, had earlier been postponed and rescheduled to November 14 as the date clashed the country's most prominent arms fair - IDEAS 2012.
MQM had announced to hold a referendum across the country to ask people whether they would like to live in a Pakistan run by the Taliban or the one envisioned by the Quaid-e-Azam.
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Time for referendums is over, its now the time to do what you have been saying you would do over these last 5 years.
The time for referendums is over, its the time for you and your party to do the right thing. Something you have been threatning to do over these past 5 years but have not had the courage to do.
Dear MQM lovers, let me remind you that it was your leader who, in India, called the partition of India "the biggest blunder in history" and yet he has the nerve to conduct this referendum....
waste of time..
Well, Waiting for the new date, I want to show the world that we Pakistani Muslims are real Muslims and are Pakistanis and not the followers of Taliban beasts. MQM has taken a stand which our government and our parties should also take to show the world that Pakistan is a Peace Loving country.
Shades of Zia's Referendum- How foolish
@Fahd Siddiqui: yur so right abt allegedly labeling patriotic Pakistanis as enemies of the state, like Ajmal Pehari, Kamran Madhuri, Farooq Dada, Fahim Commando, Rehan Kana, Arshad k2, Tariq Chamber, Naeem Sharri, Jawed Langra to name a few tsk tsk tsk
Who came up with this stupid idea of referendum to start with? I mean are you kidding me. MQM is a joke !!
@Tribune Fan Really? what good would it do? can you not appreciate a good act by a party you dislike?
Country-wise referendum on MQM is required!
@Kanwal:
before we decide if we want Taaliban's school of thought in Pakistan or Quaid-e-Azam's school of thought in Pakistan i say i want ALTAF HUSSAIN in Pakistan.
Legality of referendum was in question that's why it has been cancelled.It was a sign of state within a state...
was bad un-workable idea to start with
@ Realistic ..... Hate for MQM can take you guys anywhere, God forbid one day this fire will can burn your home as well, At least MQM have vision what IMRAN,NAWAZ AND MUNAWAR HASSAN HAS... you should be ashamed of yourself, this is the same attitude that made Bangladesh ....is mulk ma joo pakistan ki bat karta hia usy hi pakistan ka sub sy bara dusman bana diya jata hia
Dear Mr Altaf: there is an organised persecution of minorities taking place in this country. Karachi is burning and you are the only party so far that has presented an option before the Pakistanis that can make them think. What better time to fight terrorism and injustice than Moharram?It may be you received serious threats for the security of Moharram processions. Or your workers. But it may also be that this announcement of yours is just an election trick to gain the very important minority votes especially the most targetted community that is shias. Trust me, if you cant do it, no one else would do it ever. So the next date you set now, pls be careful and think: "promote unity among different sects" is a great idea, but if some of these sects happen to be the very militants or their apologists, this brilliant idea of yours is going to cause trouble for you anyway. And karachi too. So dont postpone it anymore. Get it over with now. its getting late every day.
whatever the reason is the decision to defer shows utter inability of political prognosis by Altaf Hussain something their leaders claim quite often; "Altaf Bhai pehlay say bata daitay hein kya honay wala hae PK mein"
MQM is an ethnic party, who does give it to hold refrendum? Taliban is a sectarian and ethnic faction if ther are identified in Karachi, MQM should have negotiate with them,its a game fpr powre sharing.This formula will work.
Now with this further delay, Altaf Bhai and MQM will have a more challenging time in the future as the 'Taliban' have now successfully infiltrated in thousands the 'posh-urban-localities' of the City of Karachi, in 'Western-Trousers-and-Shirts-and-Jeans-and-T-Shirts'...making it very difficult to identify them...
A sigh of relief !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Moharram is an excuse. I think it is good news for MQM workers and low-ranked officials working on ground !!! It is a very good decision made by MQM leadership Hats off to Altaf Hussain.
In the end, postpone once for all in the respect of Pakistan.