Govt forms panel to redress MQM’s grievances

The committee will start functioning from Monday

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has formed a grievance redressal committee (GRC) to address the grievances of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and other disgruntled political parties, individuals and entities.

A finance ministry statement notified the committee’s constitution on Friday.

Senator Ishaq Dar on behalf of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Dr Farooq Sattar from the MQM’s side had agreed to form the committee after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on October 9. Both the parties had agreed to form the body within five days.

Read: Resignations saga: MQM delays lawmakers’ return

According to the MoU, the five-member GRC will start functioning from Monday and formulate its rules of procedure and terms of reference within five days.

As per the agreement, the government had to nominate the committee and issue an official notification while the MQM lawmakers were to withdraw their resignations from parliament.

The panel comprises the interior secretary, who is the ex-officio secretary of the committee, two members nominated by the MQM and two members nominated by the government.  The members include Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Justice (retd) Khalilur Rehman, Justice (retd) Ajmal Mian and Barrister Farogh Nasim.

After making its rules of procedure, the committee will start functioning within 15 days. The federal government is responsible to provide the members with facilities such as office, staff and backup.

Read: MQM agrees to take back resignations

Any person having any complaints against law-enforcement agencies can submit their complaints in writing to the committee that will then investigate and give its report to the government within 90 days.

As the government has now notified the GRC within the agreed time, the MQM members are now expected to officially withdraw their resignations from the Senate, National Assembly and the Sindh Assembly.

Earlier, Senator Brig (retd) Tahir Hussain Mashadi told The Express Tribune the MQM legislators were waiting for the government to issue the notification and would withdraw their resignations.

Read: MQM pressures govt, army with list of 'executed' party members

Expressing confidence in the committee, he said that it would go a long way to serve justice to the underprivileged and the helpless regardless of their ethnicity or nationality.


Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2015.