Govt to form 'redressal committee' to address MQM’s grievances: Fazl

MQM agrees to reconsider resignations filed by their Senators, MNAs and MPAs


Web Desk/abdul Manan August 24, 2015
MQM leader Farooq Sattar and PM Nawaz Sharif. PHOTOS: AFP

ISLAMABAD: The government and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday agreed that the former will form a Grievances Redressal Committee (GRC) to address the latter’s concerns, while the Karachi-based party will reconsider the resignations it had submitted in parliament.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting between the MQM and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad ended, Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman read out a joint declaration reached between them.

According to the agreement, the government will form a committee on Tuesday which will address’s concerns over the continuing operation in Karachi. Rehman did not give any details about this committee, saying they will be decided at the time of the committee's formation.

“Modalities and time frame (for the committee to complete its work) will be finalised as the committee is formed,” he explained.

“Since their concerns are being addressed, the MQM has assured us to reconsider their resignations,” the JUI-F chief said, adding that the statement could be considered a joint declaration. He was flanked by MQM leader Farooq Sattar on one side and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on the other.

Meanwhile, Sattar said that his party had used Monday’s opportunity to reiterate their 19 grievances that they had submitted along with their resignations from the Senate, National and Sindh Assemblies.

“We spoke to the prime minister today and let him know our grievances,” Sattar said.
He added that his party had never spoken against the Karachi operation.

He added that they were seeking justice for the enforced disappearances, extra judicial killings and targeted killings of their workers – during and before the current operation.

“We want their killers to be arrested since it is mandatory for the restoration of peace in Karachi.”

Sattar stopped short of saying that the party was withdrawing its resignations. Subsequent statements from party leaders suggested that the final word on their resignations will likely come from party supremo Altaf Hussain.

Earlier, a six-member delegation of the MQM called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM’s House in Islamabad.

The six-member delegation was headed by Farooq Sattar and included party leaders Kanwar Naveed Jamil, Barrister Saif , Shabbir Qaimkhani and Wasim Akhtar.



The government’s delegation comprised Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Akram Durrani, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, JUI-F leader Maulana Ameer Zaman and Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani.

Read: In opposition: Political parties against MQM’s call to divide Sindh

The delegation apprised the premier and the government’s delegation of their reservations and demands over the ongoing Karachi operation.

PM Nawaz listened to the views of the MQM delegation and assured that their genuine concerns will be addressed by the government.

"All the genuine demands of any political party will be considered," the prime minister announced, emphasising the importance of Karachi operation to all stakeholders, including the MQM.

The prime minister hoped the Karachi operation will bring peace and prosperity to the lives of its citizen in addition to positively impacting the whole country.

He urged the MQM not to leave the parliamentary politics and play its role in the national affairs while being in the Parliament.

Read: Resignations saga: Govt ready to offer MQM ‘a few concessions’

Earlier, the MQM delegation held a meeting with Fazl, who assured them of their meeting with the prime minister.

On Saturday, the JUI-F chief, who is working as a mediator between the government and the MQM, had called the party’s supremo Altaf Hussain and requested him to resume the stalled talks.

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

Meanwhile, Fazl’s close aides said the MQM leaders were also waiting for the green light from London (where the party chief Altaf Hussain has been residing since 1992).

Dar had once again approached Fazl to arrange a meeting between the MQM leaders and the premier to discuss the party’s demands for withdrawing their resignations after Sattar complained that PM Nawaz did not meet his party’s delegation during the premier’s daylong visit to Karachi on Thursday.

Read: Fazl calls Altaf, urges MQM to resume talks

MQM lawmakers had resigned en bloc from the National Assembly, Senate and Sindh Assembly on August 12 because of their reservations over the Karachi operation.

Meanwhile, Sattar called his party chief Altaf Hussain to inform him about the developments after negotiations with the prime minister.

COMMENTS (14)

Rollin & Trollin | 8 years ago | Reply @Raisani: You are quite right; a recent survey by a prominent Brit university revealed that for the most part the current MQM is comprised of Biharis, peoples from the Mumbai area, and even Bengalis, and speak something closer to Mumbai street Hindi rather than the cultured and respectable Urdu spoken by those who hail from Lucknow or other places in UP, as well as Hyderabad Deccan. In fact, most of those latter Muslims opted to remain in India, and those who did migrate to Pakistan after Partition have long ago integrated with other ethnicities in Pakistan.
Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply As the saying goes ' You can run, but you can not hide '......eventually it catches up with you. MQM has not understood as yet that Nawaz is not so much bothered about the MQM ......as he is worried that next it's his turn.
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