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LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders on Tuesday said that protests and demonstration activities should be avoided given the current fragile situation of the country. Quoting sources, they added that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan would take back his August 14 call for the 'Azadi march', according to a statement released on the MQM's website.
Senior members of the MQM Tariq Javed, Qasim Ali and Mustafa Aziz Abadi in a joint statement strongly appealed to all parties to take steps with caution, keeping in view the critical situation of the country.
In a political twist to the increasingly complex PTI long march, the leaders said reports were received from credible sources regarding Imran Khan's decision to withdraw his August 14 call for the march in Islamabad, which according to the MQM leaders, would be announced soon.
They further said that if the reports held true, then the decision would be a blessing for the nation.
The MQM website said that the leaders issued the statement after offering Eidul Fitr prayers.
Earlier on Monday, PTI chairman Imran Khan had ruled out any deal with the government over the party’s planned march on the capital on the Independence Day.
Talking to reporters during a visit to the IDP camp here, Imran Khan said: “The time for talks is over. We waited 14 months and tried all legal options.” The issue of verification of votes in four constituencies was also taken up in parliament but the PTI got no relief, he added.
“We had requested for the constitution of a judicial commission to probe the issue but that demand was also ignored. Now the decision will be made on August 14,” he said.
Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on July 26 had announced the government's decision to call in the military to take control of Islamabad from August 1 for a period of three months.
The government's move was termed as dangerous by the PTI, while Nisar, giving an explantion over invoking Article 245 of the Constitution the next day, had said, that the move had no link with "any political rally or party", and had been decided owing to security concerns at the time of the launch of the Zarb-i-Azb operation against Taliban militants in North Waziristan tribal region.
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Comments (50) Closed
Jul 29, 2014 02:34pm
MQM live in a dreamland.
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Jul 29, 2014 02:42pm
Thank God the common sense prevailed. Speaking of God, IK thinks God's also complicit in his election loss.
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Jul 29, 2014 02:44pm
Pointless tactics my MQM. Imran Khan rubbished these rumours yesterday, I don't get why they'd change their stance in one day. Hope PTI will go through with it!
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Jul 29, 2014 03:05pm
Let him march. What's a big deal? Since when MQM has become a trustworthy organization?
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Jul 29, 2014 03:10pm
Actually they want to be part of change win or loose it doesn't matter to them. bhai logo buss yeh bata do party ke kiadat kis k hath mai hai, governor , farooq sattar ya altaf hussain ?
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Jul 29, 2014 03:14pm
Now MQM has a crystal Ball, they can predict the future.
I wonder if they see their leaders future in a British Jail soon .....
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Jul 29, 2014 03:18pm
@Dystopia
Go through with what? Can't be the PM no matter what better try his luck in UK.
--
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Jul 29, 2014 03:21pm
Flip flop khan...strikes back...:-)
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Jul 29, 2014 03:27pm
That would be a same decision.
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Jul 29, 2014 03:28pm
Pti isn't mqm and very big party in a very short space of time
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Jul 29, 2014 03:28pm
Pti isn't mqm and very big party in a very short space of time
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Jul 29, 2014 03:35pm
@Harmony MQM lives in UK on expenses sent from karachi.
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Jul 29, 2014 03:57pm
How much was the MQM paid for the disinformation?
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Jul 29, 2014 04:18pm
@Ashfaq u should ask for forgivenss and Allah SWT Is Indeed Just and The Most Gracious
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Jul 29, 2014 04:21pm
PTI march will go on and no withdrawal. PML-N is running scared that voting system will be made fool proof and Nawaz and Zardari heirs wont get to be elected by fraud. Too bad for the corrupt too good for Pakistan.
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Jul 29, 2014 04:26pm
@Harmony It is better to dream than to do nothing and just sit down. Dreams achieved have made histories.
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Jul 29, 2014 04:40pm
I am sure IK will decide in the best interest of the nation and hope Nawaz does the same
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Jul 29, 2014 04:51pm
If Imran Khan backs out now, he can kiss his political career a sad goodbye.
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Jul 29, 2014 05:09pm
In ur dreams mqm ... Long march preps r almoat done ... Ganjas n mqm better get ready to face the music
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Jul 29, 2014 05:11pm
Let's sisi boys face the music. PTI supporters think that change will come by putting Ik pics on the facebook. PTI leadership and supporters haven't suffered , never went in exile , faced Govt operation or massacre like what
happened at Dr Qadri place in lahore. Now PTI will be tested if they have muscle to really stand for the change. There is no ways in the world you will able to topple Govt or create revolution by making peaceful sit up. People advocating change should rethink that revolution does mean that IK be the PM of Pak instead of Nawaz sharif. The only revolution pakistan needs is land reforms when free 70% of our rural population will be freed from landlords. Contrary to that IK made alliance with those landlords so that he can win seats.By large PTI leadership is elite class , landlords or tested losers who left other parties, PTI leadership does not represent common man of Pak . So even if PTI manage to form Govt they will never able to make the change which everyone is expecting.
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Jul 29, 2014 05:13pm
@Ashfaq yes thank God Nawaz is your PM :) he will be for another 2 terms :)
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Jul 29, 2014 05:46pm
I hope that imran does not withdraw his call for Azadi march. This would finish him as a future leader of Pakistan and establish him as a U Turn khan forever.
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Jul 29, 2014 06:23pm
It won't effect you MQM...as soon as PTI will come to power, you'll join their government.
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Jul 29, 2014 07:00pm
This will be a good news for the poor motherland, Pakistan, if true.
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Jul 29, 2014 07:26pm
@Raaz Good one!
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Jul 29, 2014 07:53pm
That will be THE day -- when poise and sanity takes hold of the 'supreme leader' of the PTI.
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Jul 29, 2014 08:40pm
Sorry, I wanted to say "sane decision"
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Jul 29, 2014 10:08pm
I support Imran Khan for his sincerity. But, I think it is much better for him to set an example with his KPK government so that next time, there is a better result for PTI. All this march stuff is only causing more trouble for people in an already troubled city.
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Jul 29, 2014 10:38pm
I think MQM is right. Imran is an empty vessel that is capable only of making noise. He will grab at any face saving formula and there will be no march.
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Jul 30, 2014 12:20am
PTI long march reminds me of the March of the united opposition against ZA Bhutto - the outcome was the military rule of Zia Ul Haq for a decade which ruined Pakistan. PM Nawaz needs to show political wisdom and compromise which means resignation of PML-N NA members from 4 disputed seats so ECP can hold fresh elections in these 4 constituencies.
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Jul 30, 2014 12:27am
"Senior members of the MQM Tariq Javed, Qasim Ali and Mustafa Aziz Abadi in a joint statement strongly appealed to all parties to take steps with caution, keeping in view the critical situation of the country." - This is really interesting statement especially coming from MQM. Demonstration, strikes are exclusive domain of MQM. One telephone call from Altaf Bhai, strike is on, causing millions of Rupees loss to businesses.Now they are requesting other parties to take steps with caution . Hypocrisy has no limits.
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Jul 30, 2014 12:46am
I hear all sort of things about opening 4 constituencies. But these were selected by PTI where PTI had some hint of rigging. After these 4 constituencies were audited, PTI would use that to claim that all the election was rigged. It is not surprising to me that PMLN won the election. I was not expecting PTI to bag more than 30 or 40 NA seats. Major loser of rigging in Punjab has been PPP. Strange situation. To me, imran khan is just aiming too high. He is probably trying to keep his party relevant in Punjab. Bad politics i have to say. Also he is against NWA action and is just muddying the waters. I hope he does his sit in and loses.
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Jul 30, 2014 12:58am
If, and I doubt, Imran Khan were to cancel his 14th August march he would loose any credibility he has left, which is near zero any way. But, then you never know with the "U Turn" Khan. Do you?
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Jul 30, 2014 01:06am
@zak
You appear to be a gullible young man and you must shift with Imran Khan to the fool's paradise.Your leader is merely trying to take the attention away from KPK where his promises to bring about a change have met with utter failure. But be of good cheer, give him three more months to see what more damage he can cause to the country!
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Jul 30, 2014 01:09am
I think MQM is trapping PTI. Even if Imran wanted to withdraw from long march, he can not do it now because MQM has said it.
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Jul 30, 2014 01:27am
Never suspected MQM agenda! There time is over
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Jul 30, 2014 01:28am
We are with you Imran Khan.
No more Zardari's and Sharif's.
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Jul 30, 2014 01:51am
Let it be freedom from the sustained & continual corrupt practices in every aspect exercised by the rulers, including nepotism, rigging, usurpation of power, money laundering, continual increase in undisclosed offshore family ownership while the public is facing continual decrease in their condition. This freedom march is very likely to move Pakistan toward a positive change. IT is an opportunity of a life time for Pakistanis, & should not miss on it.
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Jul 30, 2014 01:58am
MQM first work on their leader mental health issues. They made Karachi a mafia land, shame on them, Please think before talking.
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Jul 30, 2014 02:02am
MQM had no business to make a statement on an important matter that has to be decided by another political party. It is simply a mean effort to confuse masses and PTI cheetas because MQM does not find itself under spot light. They should be worrying about Altaf Hussain as his bail is expiring by the end of the year.
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Jul 30, 2014 02:32am
Best way for PMLN to conduct finger print or announce mid term election to save face. If PTI postponed her Azadi March then it is THE Death for PTI.
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Jul 30, 2014 02:51am
Go imran we are with u
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Jul 30, 2014 04:03am
LOL, MQM knows how to mess with PTI ! I will not get into the detas, but MQM trapped PTI big time !
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Jul 30, 2014 06:45am
hahahaha, "MQM" is now going to speculate PTI moves? Wow what a funny story
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Jul 30, 2014 07:36am
What does PTI say on the subject? Anyone?
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Jul 30, 2014 09:47am
MQM will soon chew its words, what made them predict this? they just want to stay in limelight & issue such dream Statements.
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Jul 30, 2014 10:55am
@Raaz they don't have crystal ball but octopus(Altaf hussain) ;)
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Jul 30, 2014 11:10am
The efforts by the MQM in helping alleviate the impending instability as anticipated by the Protest movement must be applauded. Similarly, the MQM had stepped in at the right time to avert a confrontation between Dr. Qadri's supporters and the Punjab Government. Everyone has the right to register their protest, but not at a time when sensibility calls for National tenacity in facing an enemy that may feel emboldened in a precarious environment created in the aftermath of these protest marches.
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Aug 01, 2014 03:28am
There are words , men must stand by, even die for. If IK committed himself to long march on 14th Aug, if now he weasels out of his words. he might as well say good bye to his political career.
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Aug 01, 2014 10:17am
Must be a dream of NS and Co but MQM is trying its best to support NS in his dreams.
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