Controversial visit: JUI-F Sindh secretary-general decides to resign

Soomro says he is against Fazl's decision to visit MQM headquarters

SUKKUR: Strongly opposing the decision of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) chief to visit Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters Nine Zero in Karachi, the party's provincial secretary-general, Rashid Mehmood Soomro, has decided to resign from his post.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman visited Nine Zero on Tuesday as a mediator to resolve differences between the MQM and the government, and to convince MQM to withdraw their resignations from the national and provincial assemblies. However, his visit troubled Rashid so much that he decided to resign from his post.

Read: Talks with MQM: Maulana Fazlur Rehman arrives in Karachi

Talking to The Express Tribune, Rashid expressed reservations over Fazl's visit to Nine Zero. He said that he has summoned a meeting of the party on Saturday, in which his resignation will be discussed. Sources in the JUI-F claimed that Rashid is not against Fazl's role as a mediator, but is unhappy with his visit to Nine Zero.

Rashid's father and former secretary-general of JUI-F Sindh chapter, Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, had been a strong critic of the MQM as, according to him, the party alone was responsible for the unrest in Karachi.

Rashid, who was elected as secretary-general of the party after his father's assassination in November 2014, holds similar views about the MQM and was against Fazl's decision to visit Nine Zero.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2015.