KARACHI: MQM awaits parties’ response

Published November 12, 2002

KARACHI, Nov 11: Amid fluid political situation in the country, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which experienced a major organizational reshuffle, is waiting for a response from the political parties which had solicited its support in the formation of government.

“Things have been narrowed down to specific issues which pertain to implementation of the MQM’s manifesto and redressal of its grievances,” said Dr Farooq Sattar, the newly installed senior member of the MQM’s coordination committee, on Monday.

Returning after a brain storming session of the MQM think tanks in London, Dr Farooq Sattar said, “we have picked up the thread from where we had left it, but we are not in a hurry.”

The issues pertain to no-go areas and their redressal besides the alleged involvement of agencies, he said.

The MQM had held very high profile encounters with the PPP, PML-Q and MMA before its own internal crisis surfaced and culminated in reorganization of the coordination committee after the removal of Dr Imran Farooq as its convener and installation of Dr Ishratul Ibad in his place.

Informed sources said that soon after returning from London, the coordination committee went into a long session to review the evolving situation in the context of the party’s internal matters and its role in the national politics.

Those who have just returned from London are cautious and tight-lipped.

OFFER: Dr Farooq Sattar, the Senior Deputy Convenor of the MQM Rabita Committee, has hinted at resumption of dialogue with different political parties on the question of the formation of government in Sindh and at the Centre, adds APP.