KARACHI: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman hopes that the issue of MQM legislators’ resignation would be resolved through talks.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said so far Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain had not put any condition so far for holding talks and the conditions reported in the media had been withdrawn by the MQM on “our insistence that the talks would be held without any condition”.

He said his opinion on the matter of MQM lawmakers’ resignation was the same as on the resignation of PTI legislators, but after holding consultations with constitutional experts and in light of a decision of the Islamabad High Court “we see a way out of the crisis”.

He said when one party could be accommodated another party should be given the same space.

On reservations of workers of his party about his visiting the MQM headquarters, Nine Zero, the Maulana said the leadership took decisions in the interest of solidarity of the country.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had given him the task of holding talks with MQM at a meeting of leaders of parliamentary parties. “We have to play our role for stability of Pakistan because it was facing challenges on internal and external fronts.”

The Maulana said it was correct to say that the people of Karachi were finding improvement in the law and order situation because of the ongoing operation against criminals led by Rangers. He said Altaf Hussain did not speak against the operation, but he wanted it to be carried out without discrimination.

Answering a question he said the interpretation of the Islamabad High Court would have the sway on the issue of MQM’s resignations until a court comes up with a verdict.

As far as political matters were concerned the JUI chief said petitions filed in the Supreme Court were not any obstacle.

Former federal minister and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, JUI-F Sindh deputy chief Qari Mohammad Usman and Maulana Omar Sadiq were present at the press conference.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2015

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