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MQM to step back if justice is done: Altaf

With the question of acceptance of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) resignations still in the limbo, its supremo Altaf Hussain has said these can be withdrawn if justice is done to his party.
Offices of speakers of the National and Sindh assemblies denied media reports that the resignations have been accepted. In case of the Senate, chairman of the upper house was not in office when the MQM senators submitted their resignations with the staff only.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was out of the country and was likely to return from Belarus on Wednesday night before the government spells out its response. Most political observers, however, were convinced that the entire exercise was a political gamble and Altaf was certain to repeat past history and retract as was evident from his subsequent pronouncements this time as well.
"We are not against the Rangers or the army. We respect the institutions. But we believe that we are being singled out the way the current Karachi operation is being conducted," Altaf said in interviews to various private TV channels from London, adding: "If our demands are accepted and injustice is redressed, the whole matter would be over".
Senior MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the establishment was promoting "PTI vultures" to replace the MQM in Karachi. "The speaker had adopted double standards by accepting our resignations and sitting on those of PTI's."
Meanwhile, speakers of the National and Sindh assemblies have not yet accepted any resignation and left them to further 'process'.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif met speaker Ayaz Sadiq and reportedly advised him to show restraint as he did in case of the PTI resignations. Asif later told newsmen that Sardar Sadiq had simply written "please process" on each resignation.
The resignations evoked mixed reaction from politicians and analysts with most of them concurring it was a political move and the MQM was sure to recant.
PTI chairman Imran Khan tweeted with being specific: "The two resignations are fundamentally different. First (ours) was to end rigging. The second (MQM's) is to end action against target killings".
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman advised Altaf to withdraw resignations saying it would complicate present difficult situation faced by the country. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq said he was not surprised by Altaf's move to wriggle out of awkward situation his party is facing internally and in the country. PTI's Ishaq Khakwani described it only as a "storm in the teacup" saying Altaf was playing usual gimmicks.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the move is certain to backfire.
news@khaleejtimes.com

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