ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is reported to have decided to replace Shamim Akhtar, a woman legislator, with another party activist Kishwar Sultana.

A party source told Dawn on Wednesday that Ms Akhtar would be asked to submit her resignation in the National Assembly Secretariat ‘in a day or two’.

Shamim Akhtar will be the fourth MNA to be asked by the party to resign. Earlier, the MQM Rabita Committee had changed three MQM MNAs because of their ‘inability to give sufficient time to their respective constituencies’.

In line with the party’s decision, Sarkaruddin (NA-240), Sultan Ahmed Khan (NA-243) and Haji Azizullah Brohi (NA-246) submitted their resignations to the National Assembly Speaker on March 15, 2004.

These MNAs were replaced through by-elections by Abid Ali Umang, Abdul Waseem and Nisar Ahmed Panhwar, respectively.