ISLAMABAD, May 5: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday condemned its colleagues in the ruling coalition for withdrawing a National Assembly decision to probe last Tuesday’s attack on a procession of journalists in Islamabad and said it would revive the move on Friday. Speaking at a news conference, several MQM MNAs said Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan sought the withdrawal of the unanimously passed resolution at a time when they were not present in the house and the opposition had pointed out quorum.

“The resolution was the property of the house and was withdrawn by the government in an undemocratic way,” Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi said, adding the MQM condemned the u-turn taken in the parliament.

Federal Minister for Communications Shamim Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Housing Syed Safwanullah, MNAs Iqbal Mohammad Ali, Dr Abdul Qadir Khanzada, Nawab Mirza, Dev Das and some women MNAs of the party were also present.

Mr Rizvi said for the past few weeks the administration’s attitude with journalists had been improper throughout the country.

He said the MQM strongly condemned the arrest of journalists by the Islamabad police on the International Press Freedom Day.

He said despite being a part of the government MQM members had been participating in the protest sit-in of journalists outside the Parliament for the last three days.

The MNA said the police action on journalists in Islamabad and Lahore on May 3 had tarnished the image of the country in the eyes of the international community.

He said recent police actions on journalists seemed to be part of a conspiracy by anti-democratic forces against the Musharraf regime.

He also regretted the incident in which Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao misbehaved with and abused journalists during a press conference at his residence on Wednesday. “Mr Sherpao holds an important portfolio and he should not have reacted in such a way,” he added.

He said when talks could be held with terrorists and they could be rehabilitated then why could not negotiations be held with journalists.