ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) lawmakers simultaneously submitted their resignations in the National Assembly, Senate and the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday, citing reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.
MQM lawmaker Farooq Sattar while addressing the Lower House said that his party was the fourth largest in the NA, third largest in Senate and second largest in Sindh Assembly.
He said that his party held consultation on the issue of submitting resignations the other night, and the decision was “to go for it”.
Sattar said that his party was a victim of “political revenge”. He said the members of MQM were being arrested, whether guilty or innocent. He grieved that every arrested member was subjected to brutal torture. “Not just the offices, the homes of the members are also being raided.”
He said that an unannounced prohibition against the activities of MQM had been imposed in Karachi. He claimed that his party was the only political force that represented the poor.
He said that despite repeated attempts, the prime minister (PM), federal minister for interior and narcotics control and the chief of army staff (COAS) had not responded to the request for a formal meeting. He said that the only authority that was available for a meeting was the Rangers director general (DG). He said that he has spoken about his concerns time and again with the Rangers DG.
He said that more than 40 members of the MQM were arrested, bypassing the judicial system, and that the arrested were subjected to torture so extreme that they died. He said that the bodies handed over to their relatives proved this.
He said that more than 150 members of the MQM were under arrest for the past six months, adding that the Rangers had bypassed the articles 4, 9 and 10 of the constitution. He said that the police had lifted itself above the law by neglecting the 90-day remand.
He claimed that the speeches of MQM leader Altaf Hussain were in accordance with the Article 19 of the constitution. He said that the incumbent regime had violated the constitution by banning the broadcast of Altaf Hussain’s speeches.
Over in Sindh, the MQM lawmakers alleged that the provincial government had targeted the party since the start of Karachi operation under the garb of an operation to eliminate criminal elements.
Talking to media, opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hasan said that the MQM was being targeted in name of Karachi operation. “Workers and sympathisers of the party are being illegally arrested and tortured. Besides, offices of the MQM were being raided. An unannounced and illegal ban has been imposed on the party, even on its social welfare activities,” he said.
“Forty MQM workers and supporters have been killed extra-judicially in the last two years, while as many as 150 party workers are still missing,” Izhar claimed.
He said that the MQM headquarters was raided twice. “The home of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s sister was also raided. Altaf Hussain’s speeches were banned on private television channels,” Izhar said.
He was of the view that during the Karachi operation, 5,000 office-bearers, workers and sympathisers were arrested. “MQM knocked on the door of the judiciary, but it could not get justice.”
Meanwhile, the MQM lawmakers remained absent from Wednesday’s proceedings of the Sindh Assembly and later 51 hand-written resignations were submitted to Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani. In the House of 167 members, 38 of the 51 MQM members were present on the occasion.
Earlier, the MQM announced that the party parliamentarians would tender their resignations from assemblies and Senate in protest against the ongoing Karachi operation. The decision was made during a meeting of the MQM Rabita Committee simultaneously held in Karachi and London on Tuesday evening. MQM chief Altaf Hussain, while endorsing the Rabita Committee’s decision, complained that no one was willing to listen to their genuine grievances.
Talking to Daily Times, Sindh Assembly Secretary GM Umar Farooq confirmed that resignations had been received; however, rules of procedure would be adopted regarding their acceptance. “Scrutiny of resignations will take place on Thursday (today),” he added.