MQM delegation calls on prime minister

E-Paper | July 29, 2026

ISLAMABAD: A six-member delegation of the Mutthida Qaumi Movement (MQM) called on Prime Minister Sharif at Prime Minister House on Monday.

The MQM delegation, comprising Fatooq Sattar, Barrister Ali Saif, Kanwar Naveed, Muhammad Rehan Hashmi, Waseem Akhtar and Shabbir Qaimi presented the party's point of view over the Karachi operation to the prime minister, which includes the formation of a monitoring committee to oversee the operation.

Premier Nawaz Sharif listened to the views of MQM delegation and assured them that their genuine concerns will be addressed.

Read: CM opposes MQM proposal to set up monitoring body for Karachi operation

He emphasised that across the board operation in Karachi is in the interest of all stakeholders including MQM.

The prime minister said that peace in Karachi would bring prosperity for its citizens and have impact on the whole country as people of all areas in Pakistan work and live there.

He said that MQM may, for the larger national interest, remain in the Parliament and play its role in the national affairs.

Earlier during the day Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the cabinet meeting in Islamabad said that operation Zarb-i-Azb and the Karachi operation, launched with the consensus of all political parties, have been progressing successfully.

He said that MQM would benefit from the Karachi Operation as it is aimed at targeting criminal elements and added that reservations of any political party on the Karachi operation would be addressed.

Nawaz Sharif said that situation in Karachi is fast improving and the city will become peaceful soon.

The MQM parliamentarians and members of the Sindh Assembly had on Aug 12 submitted their resignations against what they called their party being discriminated against in the Rangers-led operation in Karachi.

On Friday, the party alleged that Prime Minister Sharif had “sabotaged” JUI-F chief’s efforts to address its grievances and asked the government to accept the resignation of its lawmakers.

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

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khan saheb

Aug 24, 2015 06:20pm

NS watch out, Karachi should be made a separate province

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Dr Ahmad - Melbourne

Aug 24, 2015 06:23pm

Karachi operation must continue to eliminate the buttha mafia and target killers no matter which party they belong to. Peace in Karachi is returning and people are now living normal daily life. General Akbar has done a great service to the country and specially to Karachi.

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Aug 24, 2015 06:25pm

MQM demands for a monitoring committee makes sense & should be accepted by Govt... we cant give a licence to kill to anyone without check & balance.

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waleed fakhar

Aug 24, 2015 06:29pm

When Pervez Rasheed and Ishaq Dar came at nine-zero in 2013 after elections, they both conveyed the message that Altaf Hussain and Nawaz Shareef are on the same page and have same vision;I support both of them they they both work unanimously for the betterment of pakistan.

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Ghulam

Aug 24, 2015 06:29pm

No compromise of making Karachi peaceful and prosperous please

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Qamar

Aug 24, 2015 06:29pm

Army should not let political mafias dictate the direction of Karachi operation. ALL criminals should be caught, tried in military court, and punished if found guilty. No political games should be allowed to let the criminals off the hook.

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TKHAN

Aug 24, 2015 06:30pm

MQM doesn't have the political savvy to convince PM. They only way the dialogue would last longer, if they take Fresco's Jalebi, Burns Road's Dhaga Kabbos and Dahie Baray. Javed's Nihari may also help. Of course Bong Paya should especially be prepared by Altaf Bhaie from London.

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waleed fakhar

Aug 24, 2015 06:31pm

@Dr Ahmad - Melbourne Pursuant to the HRCP report of 2015,twenty one thousands mobile were snatched in karachi compared to seventeen thousand in 2014.

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karachite

Aug 24, 2015 06:36pm

My biggest concern is that there is shortage of water in khi, no water in pipeline since last 10 -14 day.Whole country is being flooded but no water in pipeline in khi.I don't care who is meeting with whom and outcome of meeting. Please resolve water issue.

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Viking Star

Aug 24, 2015 06:46pm

OMG, why did they give resignations if they were not serious? PM ignored them, did not even meet them while in Karachi. And these guys are just trying to meet a 100 people hoping someone would help them go back to assemblies.

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ashar

Aug 24, 2015 06:49pm

Committees should be setup but people wont allow any compromise to eliminate criminals from Karachi who were enjoying free ride before this operations. I spend very peaceful 25 days in Karachi. There are several other issues which needs urgent govt attention including water & transport as top priority. Operation should go side by side as peace is the prerequisite for any development activity to happen.

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Dilectus

Aug 24, 2015 07:00pm

We should expect muk-muka from two muk-muka parties.

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Amir Khawaja

Aug 24, 2015 07:07pm

PM's refusal to meet MQM leadership at nine zero is a major success of the ruling party. That also shows the govt is controlling the streets of Karachi and not MQM, ANP, PPP etc.

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GRT

Aug 24, 2015 07:08pm

don't listen any one keep on your working in Karachi..

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Adnan shah

Aug 24, 2015 07:29pm

Why do we have to assure them they are not baby's they know that they deserve this situation

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Masood Hussain

Aug 24, 2015 07:42pm

MQM are well aware of the dire need of Karachi Operation to continue and they know it is not against them but it is against the CRIMINALS,they are Hypocrites.

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Rizwan

Aug 24, 2015 09:06pm

A good and sensible step taken by MQM. They should withdraw their resignation and go back to the Assembly and Senate where they can play a more positive role.

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Abdul Sami Qureshi

Aug 24, 2015 09:24pm

@sj who gave licence to terrorist to kill innocent people of karachi since past thirty years. The operation against criminals must be continued until and last terrorist is alive in karachi.

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Naseer

Aug 24, 2015 09:27pm

The statistics printed in Dawn a few days back showed that crime rate was very low when Karachi had MQM mayor and MQM had some control in the government. Situation got bad when PPP came into power and from bad to worse with the PML (N) government. I wish people will see that article ( http://www.dawn.com/news/1201919/10-charts-that-capture-murders-kidnappings-and-theft-in-karachi ) before commenting.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Aug 24, 2015 10:05pm

The PM himself is behind the atrocities against the urdu speaking people of urban sindh. He will not take any action regarding the genuine requests made by MQM. Even a child knows that Nawaz Sharif has personal grudge against MQM and its leadership. What improvement in Karachi is the PM talking about? Street crimes are still at its peak. People are getting mugged in broad daylight. Our biased, politicized and partisan LEAs are only settling personal scores. This is what the so called accross the board operation is all about in urban sindh.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Aug 24, 2015 10:09pm

@Naseer Thanks so much for sharing. Everyone knows that urban sindh was a great place when MQM had a share in the administration of urban sindh. These people who dreams of an end of MQM and refuses to accept their mandate, have nothing else but "ism" in their hearts. The denial is deliberate. Whether someone likes it or not. MQM is the most loved party in urban sindh.

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Muhammad Shahbaz

Aug 24, 2015 10:20pm

Law enforcement agencies should arrest these alleged criminals and appear them in court with evidences. No one can be killed by saying that these are hitmen or militants unless or until evidences are presented in the court and proven guilty. As soon as anyone is killed or robbed in Karachi every one raises its finger upon MQM, in spite of the fact that many criminal elements are operating with in Karachi. It seems this is not MQM criminal elements which are bothering Govt. but Seats they win from Karachi. If it was a matter of criminal elements then what about Lyari gangs & smugglers of arms and drugs in Sohrab goth? Govt. is continuously reiterating that crime level is dropping now days in Karachi. It is obvious when Rangers take roads then all criminals will take their homes, it is not just MQM. We as an educated nation should think about this peace operation in Karachi with unbiased vision and should also consider it's long term consequences.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Aug 24, 2015 10:42pm

MQM must continue playing constructive role even after resigning. They also must get rid of the criminal elements within their party. The same applies to other parties. The selective withdrawal of names from the Exit Control List (ECL) is really meant for the crooks to take out ill-gotten money from the country!

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A Karachi Citizen.

Aug 24, 2015 11:39pm

What are they talking about ?. I pay water and sewerage bills every month and have been doing so for many many years, but I do not get water, and have to spend a large amount in ordering water tankers. Should I and many millions like me be concerned about these talks or just be happy to avail tanker water and paying both the tanker and Water and Sewerage authority?? What have politicians ever done for common citizens??

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Justice

Aug 25, 2015 12:10am

MQM should demand to make largest city(Karachi) in Pakistan a separate province, Karachi is too big to manage.

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tariq sheikh

Aug 25, 2015 02:37am

MQM is famous for liking it's own spit. Soon they will be back, no worry at all

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