Fazl calls Altaf, urges MQM to resume talks

MQM chief asks for time to consult with party memebrs

The government appointed mediator Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman on Saturday called Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and requested the latter to resume stalled talks, Express News reported.

According to sources, JUI-chief asked Altaf to direct MQM Rabita Committee to resume negotiations from Monday, upon which MQM chief asked said he would respond after consulting with party leaders.

During the telephonic conversation, Fazl advised the government to avoid issuing controversial statements.

In a press statement, the party said that Fazl maintained that as the mediator, he assured the party that not only will the government listen to genuine grievances of MQM, but will also will try to address and remove them.

Following Rehman’s call, the party has started consultations to decide whether to resume the dialogue or remain firm on their decision of not to engage in further talks with the government in Islamabad.

Read: Alleged victimisation: MQM lawmakers resign en bloc

Confirming that the JUI-F chief had reached out to the party, MQM leader Mustafa Azizabadi said Fazl had request Altaf to review party’s decision to abandon talks.

#JUI leader Moulana Fazalur Rehman contacted #MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain over phone. request for review on refusal of dialogue with Govt.

— Mustafa Azizabadi (@azizabadi) August 22, 2015

Earlier in the day JUI-F chief, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah contacted MQM leader Farooq Sattar via telephone and urged him to reconsider party’s decision to break off negotiations.

Read: Disgruntled MQM breaks off negotiations with govt, wants resignations to be accepted

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 MQM early on Saturday demanded that its resignations from the Senate, National Assembly and the Sindh Assembly, should be accepted, breaking off negotiations with the government.

On August 12, Lawmakers of MQM in both houses of parliament and the Sindh Assembly tendered their resignations in protest against what they called the party’s ‘victimisation’ at the hands of the security agencies in Karachi and the federal and provincial governments’ ‘blind eye’ towards their grievances.