Disgruntled MQM breaks off negotiations with govt, wants resignations to be accepted
MQM parliamentarians say they will divert energy to social work, new province
MQM says its parliamentarians will be focusing on welfare work. PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Angry at the cold shoulder treatment meted out to it during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s latest visit to the megalopolis and the continued action against its members, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) demanded that its resignations from the Senate, National Assembly and the Sindh Assembly, should be accepted, breaking off negotiations with the government.
According to a statement released early on Saturday morning, the party – after a joint meeting between the party’s Rabita Committee in London and Karachi – lamented the 'threatening' attitude of Nawaz during his visit to Karachi on Thursday.
They said that the government-appointed mediator Mualana Fazlur Rehman and the MQM had a successful meeting just a few days earlier where it was decided to continue talks in Islamabad. But, Nawaz’s attitude during his meeting at Governor House on Thursday disrespected Rehman's role.
The party lamented how the prime minister did not even utter a word about the meeting or that the government wanted to solve genuine grievances of MQM. Nor did the prime minister visit the injured Rashid Godil, a member of the same National Assembly that Nawaz is a part of.
While leaving the door open for Rehman to hold talks with MQM at any point, the party said that they will no longer discuss a return to assemblies with him.
Instead of focusing on a return to parliament, the party said they had unanimously decided to divert their energies towards their social welfare work under the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation and for creating a new province.
Angry at the cold shoulder treatment meted out to it during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s latest visit to the megalopolis and the continued action against its members, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) demanded that its resignations from the Senate, National Assembly and the Sindh Assembly, should be accepted, breaking off negotiations with the government.
According to a statement released early on Saturday morning, the party – after a joint meeting between the party’s Rabita Committee in London and Karachi – lamented the 'threatening' attitude of Nawaz during his visit to Karachi on Thursday.
They said that the government-appointed mediator Mualana Fazlur Rehman and the MQM had a successful meeting just a few days earlier where it was decided to continue talks in Islamabad. But, Nawaz’s attitude during his meeting at Governor House on Thursday disrespected Rehman's role.
The party lamented how the prime minister did not even utter a word about the meeting or that the government wanted to solve genuine grievances of MQM. Nor did the prime minister visit the injured Rashid Godil, a member of the same National Assembly that Nawaz is a part of.
While leaving the door open for Rehman to hold talks with MQM at any point, the party said that they will no longer discuss a return to assemblies with him.
Instead of focusing on a return to parliament, the party said they had unanimously decided to divert their energies towards their social welfare work under the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation and for creating a new province.