ISLAMABAD: Following the MQM’s insistence for acceptance of resignations of its legislators, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has intensified efforts for mediation and removing the ‘misunderstanding’ created after the prime minister’s recent visit to Karachi.

The Maulana, who had earlier succeeded in making the PML-N and the MQM agree to hold direct negotiations in Islamabad, talked to MQM’s parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar by telephone on Saturday and conveyed Muttahida’s “grievances” to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

In an attempt to win political backing for his efforts, the JUI-F chief also talked to Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah and asked him to play a role in resolving the issue.

Mr Shah immediately contacted Dr Sattar and said the MQM should not close doors on negotiations. “MQM’s grievances are genuine and the prime minister should have at least uttered a few positive words about the MQM during his visit to Karachi,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Shah said he had talked to Dr Sattar and advised him not to abandon the talks.

The MQM had alleged on Friday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had “sabotaged” the Maulana’s efforts for addressing its grievances and asked the government to accept the resignations.

Mr Sharif adopted an “intimidating” tone during a meeting at the Governor House and “did not utter a single sentence about the MQM’s complaints,” the par­ty said in a statement.

The MQM urged the Maulana not to mediate anymore, saying the government must now accept the resignations of its lawmakers.

But JUI-F spokesman Jan Achakzai said thte Maulana had again received a positive response from the two sides as Mr Dar had told them that the government did not want to see the MQM out of parliament.

Mr Achakzai said Dr Sattar told him that he would come back to the Maulana after holding consultations within his party.

Mr Shah said the PPP wanted the MQM to play its role in the assemblies.

In reply to a question, he said Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah should not have any problem with the monitoring committee for overseeing the Karachi operation which was the basic demand of the MQM.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2015

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