ISLAMABAD: Quelling political drama that had stretched out over several months, Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday informed the House that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has agreed to withdraw his party's motion to de-seat the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The decision comes a day after the government said it had successfully managed to convince the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) to withdraw its resolution.

Salman Khan Baloch moved the withdrawal motion on behalf of the MQM, while Naeema Kishwar Khan moved the same on behalf of the JUI-F.

The NA also unanimously approved a new resolution to uphold the supremacy of parliament.

The resolution said the House will not allow the supremacy of the Constitution, the sovereignty of the parliament or the Islamic identity of the country to be harmed.

The resolution which was moved by the JUI-F chief said it is compulsory for all political parties to respect the stature of the House.

Also read: Absence during dharna: NA vote to de-seat PTI MNAs deferred for one week

MQM withdraws motion 'in greater national interest'

The NA Speaker said that MQM and JUI-F agreed to take back their motion to de-seat the PTI. ─ DawnNews screengrab

Ayaz Sadiq said the MQM chief made the decision to withdraw the motion during a telephonic conversation the previous night. "I spoke to Altaf Hussain, not happily, but to talk to him about not issuing statements against the armed forces," he said.

The NA Speaker said, "Altaf Hussain told me that the army and armed forces are brothers ... I also spoke to him about the matter of de-seating PTI MNAs. He said he would consult his colleagues ... Later in the night, Altaf Hussain contacted me. I am happy to announce that the MQM has agreed to take back its de-seating motion in the greater national interest."

He said that the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had also withdrawn his party's motion.

Also read: MQM and JUI-F move motions to de-seat 28 PTI MNAs

PPP hails decision as 'day of victory for parliament'

Syed Khursheed Shah said the decision was a positive sign. ─ DawnNews screengrab

Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said, "Today is a day of victory for the parliament."

"We have not only only protected PTI but its supporters as well," Shah said, adding, "Maulana Fazlur Rehman has exhibited a great heart which is a positive sign for the days to come."

"The voters should not be punished for the mistakes of others," Shah said. "We will have to amend our attitude and move ahead."

He added that taking back the motions is not a matter of loss of victory for anyone.

Also read: PPP throws weight behind beleaguered PTI over de-seating uproar

JUI-F withdraws motion on PM's request

The JUI-F chief said the party had withdrawn its earlier motion at the request of the PM. ─ DawnNews screengrab

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said, "The majority never deprives the minority from its right of difference of opinion."

"When I reached home I was informed that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari wanted to talk to me. I contacted him and apprised him of the details. He told me he was happy with the positive decision taken by our party."

"Similarly Rashid Godil of the MQM contacted me and said MQM chief Altaf Hussain wanted to talk to me. When I did manage to speak to Altaf Hussain, he reacted similarly to how all of you have just reacted here in the House," he said, referring of the House's positive reaction to the news.

The JUI-F chief yesterday said his party had decided to withdraw the motion at the request of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. But he added that a new motion would be moved in the assembly soon.

Without divulging the text of the new motion, the JUI-F chief had said he would ask the speaker to call a meeting of leaders of all parliamentary parties for a consensus on his proposed new motion.

“If all the parties agree, we will accept the prime minister’s request and withdraw our earlier motion,” he had said.

Also read: JUI-F likely to withdraw motion on de-seating PTI lawmakers

MQM says it wanted to 'stabilise democracy'

The MQM took back it's de-seating motion unconditionally. ─ DawnNews screengrab

Senior MQM leader Farooq Satter while addressing the House said "Altaf Hussain has said he has no animosity with the armed forces or Rangers."

"Altaf Hussain added that the Rangers are his brothers," Satter told the House. "The decision to withdraw the de-seating motion was made to stabilise democracy," he said.

"Our intention was not to de-seat a party which came in the House via popular mandate ... We accepted the Prime Minister's appeal to uphold supremacy of the parliament," he said, adding, "The MQM has taken back its de-seating motion unconditionally."

Also read: Nawaz urges JUI-F, MQM to withdraw deseating motions against PTI

The MQM and the government-allied JUI-F sought to declare the 28 NA seats occupied by the PTI vacant because their occupants remained absent from the House without leave when their party boycotted it after resigning.

NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had intially refused to entertain the resignations by 29 of the 34 PTI party members of the house unless each of them individually met him to confirm they had resigned out of their own free will.

The MQM's Mohammad Salman Khan Baloch and JUI-F’s Naeema Kishwar Khan had separately moved two motions on April 22 invoking Clause (2) of Article 64 of the Constitution but the issue had not been taken up until now.

Angry opposition parties rivalling the PTI had made a fresh attempt to bar the party from the NA after a judicial commission ruled against Imran Khan’s allegations of rigging in the May 2013 elections.

But today's development and the NA's subsequent motion to uphold the supremacy of Parliament put an end to the bitter rivalry between the PTI and angry MQM and JUI-F on this issue.