JUI-F chief tasked to woo MQM lawmakers back to parliament

Published August 13, 2015
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that Khursheed Shah had tasked him with the responsibility "to contact Altaf Hussain and MQM leadership so that they agree to take back their resignations and return to parliament."— INP/file
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that Khursheed Shah had tasked him with the responsibility "to contact Altaf Hussain and MQM leadership so that they agree to take back their resignations and return to parliament."— INP/file

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday was tasked with the responsibility to convince Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers to withdraw their resignations submitted a day earlier.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the parliamentary leaders to discuss the matter of resignations submitted by MQM lawmakers.

After the meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman addressed mediapersons outside Parliament House and said that Khursheed Shah had tasked him with the responsibility "to contact Altaf Hussain and MQM leadership so that they agree to take back their resignations and return to parliament."

He said MQM’s actions could cause a political crisis and that he will make efforts to defuse the situation.

The JUI-F further said that he will consult constitutional experts before approaching MQM lawmakers and added that positives signs had also been received from the MQM.

Fazl said that he had already stated obvious his stance on the situation that once the resignations are submitted or are sent to the speaker's chamber, then the resignations cannot be taken back as per rules of constitution.

Read: MQM lawmakers tender resignations

MQM lawmakers on Wednesday had simultaneously submitted their resignations in the National Assembly, Senate and the Sindh Assembly, citing reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah belonging to PPP and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman were among those who were especially invite to the meeting of parliamentary leaders summoned by the prime minister.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi talking to DawnNews had said that his party had not been invited to the meeting summoned by the prime minister.

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