KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) agreed on Tuesday to continue the dialogue for the former’s return to the assemblies.
The two sides said the firing at MQM lawmaker in Karachi was an attempt to sabotage the dialogue. Fazl had travelled to Karachi on Monday to hold talks with disgruntled MQM leaders who resigned from parliament last week in protest over alleged excesses during Rangers-led security operation in the port city. He had been tasked with convincing the MQM lawmakers to withdraw their resignations. “The Godil incident is a sad affair. The incident happened when talks were going on, which shows cowardliness of the people involved,” MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said while talking to media after the talks.
He said MQM wanted to resolve all issues through dialogue and negotiations, and hoped the JUI-F chief would present suggestions to address their reservations. The party has decided to take the dialogue process forward and the next round of talks would be held in Islamabad. Sattar claimed his party’s lawmakers had resigned over violation of constitutional, legal and human rights and would withdraw them only after they are addressed. “We have not opposed the Karachi operation but are seeking impartiality,” he added.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain and senior leadership of the party thanked the JUI-F chief for his visit. “We will consider his suggestions as he has come to Nine Zero as a mediator and we respect him,” Sattar added. “We took an extreme step and now the JUI-F chief has told us to reconsider it,” Sattar said. Meanwhile, Fazl said the shooting incident showed some forces want to harm the ongoing talks. “Like every other dialogue process, this will also gradually move forward,” he said. During his first ever visit to MQM headquarters Fazl tried to woo the MQM parliamentarians back to assemblies. He thanked Altaf Hussain and his party’s members for their “positive attitude” towards the dialogue process.
“Despite the unfortunate terror incident, I did not observe any change in the positive attitude of MQM leadership,” Fazl said. Terming the attack on Godil a cowardly attempt to damage the dialogue process, he condemned it and prayed for his early recovery. He told media the MQM has agreed to continue the process of talks, and the next round of talks would be held in the federal capital. Earlier, Sattar said the talks with the JUI-F chief were held following a telephonic conversation between Altaf Hussain and Fazl. He said the JUI-F chief has called upon his party to continue to play its role in the democratic and political process while remaining in parliament.