KARACHI, March 14: The parliamentary party of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement met on Friday but failed to take a decision on its future role in the national or provincial assemblies.

The meeting of the newly-elected legislators of the MQM was held here at the party’s headquarters. Dr Farooq Sattar, the party’s parliamentary leader-designate in the National Assembly, presided over the meeting.

Sources told Dawn that the party remained undecided about its future role in parliament despite the fact that most lawmakers were of the view that the party should sit on opposition benches.

The sources said the meeting discussed the possibility of the MQM fielding candidates for the posts of the National Assembly’s speaker and deputy speaker. They added that no final decision was taken.

The election of the National Assembly’s speaker and deputy speaker is set to be held on March 19.

Most of the 25 MNAs-elect of the MQM will leave the city for Islamabad on Saturday for taking an oath in the inaugural session of the National Assembly to be held on March 17.

The designated deputy parliamentary leader of the MQM in the Sindh Assembly, Faisal Subzwari, told Dawn that the meeting reviewed the overall political situation in the centre and in the province.

“We have decided that MQM legislators will play a positive role in parliament.”

He said that it was a combined meeting of the party’s MNAs-elect and MPAs-elect. He added that Dr Sattar briefed the participants of the meeting, especially those elected to parliament for the first time, on the constitution and parliamentary rules and procedures.

Meanwhile, sources said, MQM convener Dr Imran Farooq would chair an important meeting of the party’s coordination committee, to be held simultaneously in London and Karachi on Friday night, to evolve the party’s future course of action. The parliamentary and deputy parliamentary leaders in the National and Sindh assemblies would also attend the meeting.

The sources said that the MQM was keeping a close eye on the rapidly changing political situation in the country which delayed its final decision regarding the party’s future role in parliament.