Lawmakers' resignations: MQM lays stress on three conditions
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KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement continued to stick to its guns on the issue of its lawmakers’ resignations, but it informally communicated to the federal government its three main conditions for initiating a dialogue that might lead to the withdrawal of the resignations, it emerged on Thursday.
MQM sources told Dawn that the first condition was establishment of a monitoring committee to oversee the Rangers-led Karachi operation; the second for setting up a judicial commission to investigate “extrajudicial killings” of MQM workers, and the third for the recovery of over 100 MQM workers allegedly in the custody of law-enforcement personnel.
Know more: MQM lawmakers tender resignations
Previously, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had agreed to the MQM’s demand of setting up a monitoring committee, but it was not formed because of unknown reasons.
It appears that the government is mulling over the setting up of the monitoring committee to woo the MQM, as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told a private TV news channel on Thursday evening that the government would definitely look into the formation of the committee.
In the same programme, senior MQM leader Nadeem Nusrat said that it would be a welcome sign if the government set up the committee to monitor the Karachi operation. He also hinted at taking back the resignation decision when he told the anchor that in politics “decisions are not the line drawn on a rock”.
“Everything is included in the 18-point annexure attached to the resignation of every MQM lawmaker... We have no other demands,” MQM spokesman Amin-ul-Haq said.
Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015
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Comments (71) Closed
Aug 14, 2015 06:47am
MQM's just grievances should be addressed and issues that make mohajirs feel discriminated like urban / rural divide in quota system in Sind alone, should also be looked into. Most mohajirs are faithful to Pakistan and have sacrificed the most for Pakistan.
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Aug 14, 2015 06:53am
Public lays stress on one condition: Stop militancy and terrorism.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:02am
At pakistani
Not "most muhajir"
All Muhajirs are faithful
Change your way of thinking...
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Aug 14, 2015 07:03am
Govt and Rangers should
n't listen black mailing propaganda, please get the job done, make me proud be Pakistani nation who take his own decisions please......
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Aug 14, 2015 07:08am
All Pakistanis agree that the operation should be neutral and so far we believe it is going neutral. Government must try to bring MQM back into the Parliament so they could play their role in the development of Karachi. MQM leadership must understand that there will be no compromise on the sovereignty of Pakistan. Giving statements against Pakistan and Pakistan army has not helped MQM but has damaged its position. This will never be tolerated at any cost. Pakistan hai toa hum hain, warna kuch bhi nahi.....Pakistan Army Zindabad - Pakistan Paaindabad
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Aug 14, 2015 07:09am
@Sami true and that is what Pakistan Rangers trying to do.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:12am
Pakistan shall be a divided lot if justice does not prevail in the job market.Create good jobs for everybody according to the ability and needs.All Pakistanis are faithful citizens of Pakistan--unless proved otherwise in a court of law.Holier than thou attitude negates the concept of equality.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:17am
Very genuine and reasonable demands. Not asking ministerships, no release of prisoners, no development funds and no authority . Government should either accept it or reject it and if rejects then accept their resignation sooner the better.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:18am
I think these are fair demands. Kidnapping and torturing is not the answer and rangers has turned into the same thing MQM has become
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Aug 14, 2015 07:18am
@A gujjar What is wrong with their demands ?
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Aug 14, 2015 07:20am
Somebody must get this guy for good.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:21am
@A Pakistani .... This is not about discrimination.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:21am
@Sami Militancy is in FATA and in Baluchistan not in Karachi.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:23am
@Umer
If the operation is neutral, why rangers avoid monitoring committee? Why nothing concrete presented in courts after 90 day remand is over for most of MQM workers. Why there is no case in courts for baldia factory fire? Why two suspects in Imran farooq murder case not presented to London police investigation team?
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Aug 14, 2015 07:28am
Mqm back to auqaat...as usual will take resignations back just like their run away so called leader AH does all the time with no shame......lol
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Aug 14, 2015 07:32am
@Hasan Askari Are the ones calling on India to send forces into Pakistan and those supporting it are also faithful....
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Aug 14, 2015 07:33am
The debate should not take the form of Muhajir Vs Rest of the country. Genuine grievances of MQM should be addressed without compromising the ongoing drive against criminals.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:33am
Is it a political party which is bound by the law of Pakistan or a independent entity above the law....
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Aug 14, 2015 07:40am
@Sami Karachiities lays stress on stop looting resources if Karachi and taking over to Islamabad and stop trying to rule Karachi from Islamabad and Lahore
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Aug 14, 2015 07:46am
@Hasan Askari there is no such thing as Muhajir if you are a legal citizen of Pakistan
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Aug 14, 2015 07:56am
In simple words, MQM do not want operation in Karachi .
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Aug 14, 2015 07:58am
What goes around, comes around.
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Aug 14, 2015 08:05am
Wishful thinking on the part of MQM. We're better off with them outside the NA.
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Aug 14, 2015 08:05am
Government must not succumb to the blackmailing.
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Aug 14, 2015 09:00am
The should simply say: we will resign if you don't stop catching our 'commandos' and don't catch us for giving orders.
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Aug 14, 2015 09:36am
@A Pakistani there are no muhajirs in Pakistan.. All are pakistanis.. Who call themselves muhajir, should go back where they can call themselves whatever they want..
My father migrated and became Pakistani so were thousands of relatives, few of them are living in Karachi too...
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Aug 14, 2015 10:14am
I don't care if MQM takes back their resignations or not, I do care that Karachi's peace remains, life and limb of every Pakistani is precious and must be protected using all possible resources available with sate of Pakistan. There should be no compromise on this.
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Aug 14, 2015 10:25am
@A Pakistani Quota system in Sindh is not a Federal issue, its a provincial issues I think. We shall ask our representatives in provincial and national assemblies to work for the issues that matter us most. No point of finger raising on others for our own elected who have worked for their personal interests so far!
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Aug 14, 2015 10:36am
State is the mother of its citizen.Any grievances of the citizen to be looked into without fail as delay creates more problem.MQM is a reality so we must create a platform where equality, merit, justice, ownership, truth, localisation, decentralisation and good governance are practiced as in any civilised society.
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Aug 14, 2015 10:37am
People of Pakistan now don't care about any of the above condition.
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Aug 14, 2015 10:39am
Common man is always ignored by all the so called paties trying to save democracy. In Karachi thousands have been killed, have their homes taken away by force and the only discussion is a few party workers. It made one sick to see what was being discussed on TV yesterday by Qureshi of PTI and Hussain of MQM - extortion, killing of thousands were not an issue. Sadly the media is failing and not helping the weak and exploited.
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Aug 14, 2015 10:40am
Eight times MQM tried that formula in Sind Government and now in other houses. In Sind it worked and looks like this is the bigining at the Federal level. The Federal Government will also be black-mailed like the Sind Government and frequently.
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Aug 14, 2015 10:44am
Please do not come under pressure of MQM cunning propaganda. Rangers needs to continue operation till complete peace restores to the city. If it is left in the middle may cause uncontrollable violence and long lasting law and order situation.
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Aug 14, 2015 10:57am
In simple terms their only demand is to release their dedicated hardworking workers and not to pursue them (the leaders) for giving them hard tasks.
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Aug 14, 2015 11:15am
making committee means that rangers first get approval from committee what to do, what sort of operation would be that one then????
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Aug 14, 2015 11:31am
All the 3 demand look reasonable. All these concerns which mqm has put up should be looked into.
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Aug 14, 2015 11:35am
@A gujjar : Is there anything that does not make sense in the three demands! Open your eyes Mr. Gujjar. you 've a blanket of bias on your head.
MQM is not asking for the end of operation. Just for the monitoring committee and and findings the whereabouts of its missing workers. nothing else!
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Aug 14, 2015 11:38am
Nobody is enemy of MQM. They themselves are their own enemies by ruining the businesses of the citizens by staging strikes and destroying the peace and security of Karachi. Before MQM, people used to roam Karachi whole night but after MQM people are afraid to go out in the day time.
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Aug 14, 2015 11:43am
MQM should should stop all criminal activities! Period!
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Aug 14, 2015 12:04pm
A runaway from law and a suspect in various criminal acts here and in UK is dictating state. This is what happens when cowards with self interest are at the helm.
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Aug 14, 2015 12:40pm
Committee to oversee operation & investigation into EJ killings are reasonable and should be met within reason.
Recovery of workers is a no, however, they must be presented before courts within a set time which is a fair compromise.
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Aug 14, 2015 01:23pm
Deserving demand,must be accepted....
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Aug 14, 2015 01:34pm
@A Pakistani
There is no point of bringing Mohajir non Mohajir issue here. It's motihidda qomi movement. Come out of that politics. And the operation is against criminals and not Mohajir.
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Aug 14, 2015 01:36pm
MQM has done a brilliant move putting all its foes on the back foot. However, one sincerely wishes that mqm does not sell itself short once again when negotiating its way back to the assemblies. It should focus on structural and institutional benefits rather than one time reliefs like getting arrested workers released. A core demand should be the holding of local bodies polls without further delays under the revised local governance legislation proposed my mqm a couple of years back which gives adequate powers to the local bodies. It should also be federal government efforts to ensure that such an important element of Pakistan's population is not kept out of the power structure.
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Aug 14, 2015 01:56pm
Government should accept resignations and go on and finish the task it set out to do as this is the demand of the pakistani peoples
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Aug 14, 2015 02:01pm
Stop using Mohajirs or URDU speaking card, if there would be discrimination URDU would have never become the National language of Pakisan.
MQM have a right demand to have inquiry and law enforcement agencies should not do anything thing which is unlawful , government should open a committee to have check and balance on these forces.
When it comes to their third demand to release their party workers then sorry if they are criminals they will end up in jail , if they are murderer will be hang, if they are innocent then yes they should be free and compensation should be paid for their unlawful arrest
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Aug 14, 2015 02:29pm
Let me see if I understand this correctly.
The MQM hasn't actually resigned - they have merely handed in their resignation letters with an 18-point annexure.
Being totally impartial, does this really bode well for the future?
Now any lawmaker could hand in a resignation letter without any intention to leave the assembly, because he could put in a 1000-point annexure.
He could then technically save face by claiming that the government has agreed to look at some of those demands - and as such I am withdrawing my resignation.
The MQM may well have genuine grievances, but what irks me big time is the way politicians from all sides are now pulling this "I will resign or else" card on a daily basis.
As kids, we would take our cricket bat/football home in protest - but as adults you would think a level of maturity is a minimum standard to be expected from lawmakers, regardless of all the grievances they may have.
No parliament can function with this type of shenanigans going on.
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Aug 14, 2015 02:35pm
I cannot understand how ‘Muhajirs’ can be discriminated. Is there any separate CNIC which is only issued to ‘Muhajirs’?
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Aug 14, 2015 04:07pm
Quota system, the greatest 'Symbol of Hatred and injustice' man can imagine is still enforced in Pakistan. A curse the country has brought onto itself. And nobody speaks against that filth, not even MQM??
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Aug 14, 2015 04:16pm
Good luck with that, while the rest of the nation and its patriotic forces march on to clean Karachi and Pakistan in general with corrupt, looters, killers, mafias and terrorists.
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Aug 14, 2015 04:16pm
Government must agree on all three conditions against a single condition from the Government about, bringing MQM chief from overseas and surrendering him to the authorities for investigations on well defined charges.
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Aug 14, 2015 04:25pm
@Adeel
Why should there be a committee? We have courts. If MQM has issues with the Rangers and other LEAs, they should approach the courts.
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Aug 14, 2015 04:33pm
@Razi : It is in favor of MQM by far ! The good of both sides !
They get their due on merits and still get the seats on quota. With their very high (98%) literacy rate, they get a lion's share of seats on merits while the quota seats are already reserved for them in non-merited part.
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Aug 14, 2015 05:17pm
their demands are absurd, there is a judicial system if they have issues go to court. govt should not cave in to their demands
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Aug 14, 2015 05:25pm
Clean up Karachi from target killers and extortionists, bring peace to our lives.
let Rangers do their job
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Aug 14, 2015 05:38pm
@Razi YOU get more than your 7% population, That includes non-merited candidates through quota and merited candidates. Which becomes more than your share as far as your population is concerned.
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Aug 14, 2015 05:39pm
First they wanted the army to clean the mess and when they started, MQM was all hue and cry. Now the committe will also be cried upon once they agree to the raids.
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Aug 14, 2015 06:01pm
Govt please dont disappoint us this time
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Aug 14, 2015 06:12pm
@Akil Akhtar
Yes Ghulam Mustafa Khar is not faithful to Pakistan nor ANP, Achakzai, Balochs and GM Syed. Totally agree with you
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Aug 14, 2015 06:23pm
We want peace in Karachi, Rangers are doing great job. Please clean up Karachi so we can have peace
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Aug 14, 2015 06:28pm
I wonder what sort of government we that its giving in to the demands of MQM.Sharif should stand his grounds and let the MQM hand in their resignations,and see what they can achive.If sharif gives in then their will be more than before target killings.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:00pm
the demand made by mqm f monitring the karachi opration is genioun but opration should nt b controlled by the monitring commitee while demand f judicial commission is absoultly wron and about missing persons mqm has the remdies provided by the law to them so in conditons mqm lawmakers should with draw theier resignations frm national assembly
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Aug 14, 2015 07:06pm
"Previously, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had agreed to the MQM’s demand of setting up a monitoring committee, but it was not formed because of unknown reasons."
Yes, he will set up committee once he gets time from his frequent foreign tours.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:13pm
@Adil Akhtar Number one srart with the Quota-System which is the root cause of discrimination, a first div. Mohajir student will not get into a professional college but a third div. MNA or MPA son will be admitted . smane is with the jobs. Where is justice.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:14pm
What is wrong with the demands?
1- Apex committe itself said there should be committe to oversee. If rangers are that clean then why are they afraid
2- All actions should go through courts and people should not be killed. When you can form JC on small matters then form one here
3- Missing person should be presented in court not killed
And we give hides, zakat on our will. Who are you to stop us? Imran Khan collects funds also...from all over the world. If MQM supporters are giving money who are you to stop them?
Who are you to arrest people for listening to speeches?
What the heck is going on in this country? Is there a system here? Rangers are acting as militants. Do not tell me peace has returned to Karachi. Of course when you will gave safe passage to ladla, baloch and operate against TTP peace will return. We appreciate that..we saw peace when mqm was in local government..if they really were so bad they would have abuse it
stop playing politics and do your job.
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Aug 14, 2015 07:27pm
@Saeed - canada You are absolutely right.
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Aug 15, 2015 01:22am
@Hasan Askari I 100% agree with you.
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Aug 15, 2015 01:54am
Every one in Pakistan politics knows that if
MQM resignations are accepted then MQM will win the by election by a much wider margin that's why no one is pushing the government to accept the resignations.
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Aug 15, 2015 02:19am
@Zul-Canada Do you understand the difference between AH's resignation as party chief and the resignations of National Assembly Members belonging to MQM.
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Aug 15, 2015 03:07am
We in Karachi live in constant fear as today on Independence days workers of "political party" not allowing to put Pakistan flag on our houses. Apparently the Party is making a big day celebration but it is just for media and to white wash their RAW affiliation. My brother was coming home on his bike with Pak flag and was chased by workers of the same political party.
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Aug 15, 2015 05:05am
...otherwise on the
"same salary"
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