Fazl says govt and MQM both ready to reconcile

Published August 19, 2015
Maulana Fazl says the government and MQM are both ready to reconcile. —Photo courtesy: Radio Pakistan website
Maulana Fazl says the government and MQM are both ready to reconcile. —Photo courtesy: Radio Pakistan website

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at Prime Minister House on Wednesday following which the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief said that the government and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), both were ready to reconcile.

Fazl apprised the premier regarding the progress on his talks with MQM's disgruntled leaders who had simultaneously submitted their resignations in the National Assembly, Senate and the Sindh Assembly last week, citing reservations over the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.

Read: MQM lawmakers tender resignations

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had requested the JUI-F head to hold talks with the MQM leadership in an attempt to convince them to withdraw their resignations.

Fazl visited the ‘Nine Zero’ headquarters of the MQM on Tuesday to persuade the party to withdraw resignations of its legislators, but the mission remained inconclusive in the wake of an attempt on the life of Muttahida MNA Rashid Godil.

Also read: MQM's Rashid Godil critical after Karachi attack

The two sides agreed to put the talks on hold for a while and start the process again in a couple of days in Islamabad.

The JUI-F chief informed PM Nawaz about reservations of the MQM.

Speaking to media after his meeting with the premier, Fazl said most of MQM's reservations were related to the Karachi operation.

MQM is not against operation, however, the issue is about targeting just one political party, he said.

The JUI-F chief said the Prime Minister during the meeting stressed on addressing the reservations of MQM and that he hoped the issue of MQM leaders' resignations would be solved soon.

PM Nawaz appreciated the role of Maulana Fazl in creating political harmony, said a report published on the Radio Pakistan website.

Know more: JUI-F chief tasked to woo MQM lawmakers back to parliament

Terming MQM's attitude towards the talks "positive", Fazl said the government and MQM were both ready to reconcile.

"The reasonable demands of MQM will be met," Fazl said, adding that he saw no legal hindrances in MQM's demand of forming a monitoring committee to oversee the Karachi operation for any excesses.

Referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members's return to the parliament, Fazl said it was wrong to keep one opponent out of the parliament after bringing another inside.

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