ISLAMABAD - The PML-N government has conceded to form Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) to address MQM’s reservations, as it was scared of en-masse resignations of other major opposition parties especially PTI.
The government, which is set to form a redressal committee in a day, has perceived the intentions of other political parties to follow the MQM’s and quit assemblies, background discussions and interviews with opposition parties left this impression.
The incumbent government, currently engaged in plethora of issues with other opposition (PPP & PTI), has decided to avoid big political turmoil and at least to woo MQM, said sources in parliamentary parties.
MQM has recently been assured to address some of their genuine issues, as their other main demands, including free hand to collect hides on Eid-ul Azha and lifting a ban on Altaf Hussain were already declined by government taking support of delaying tactics, said sources.
MQM, the fourth largest parliamentary party, has accepted to rejoin parliamentary politics as now it feels the seriousness of government to at least address ‘some’ genuine issues by constituting a committee.
The assurance to form a ‘Grievance Redressal Committee’ (GRC) and submit report in 90 days to Interior Secretary was the main reason to rejoin parliament. “The opposition party has strict instructions from party’s supermo Altaf Hussain to rejoin parliament after the formation of committee,” said sources in opposition party.
Talking to The Nation, MQM’s senior leader Waseem Akhtar said that they decided to rejoin parliamentary politics after realising seriousness of government to address their issues.
“Government was earlier not serious to address MQM’s issues so we opt to quit parliament,” said Akhtar, adding that the government after signing MoU is now bound to form the committee and compile report in three months.
When contacted, MQM’s senator Col(Retd) Tahir Hussain Mashahadi said the formation of the committee with strong assurances had become the main reasons to rejoin parliamentary politics. “We (MQM) under protest left parliament but now the assurance of government has made up our mind to rejoin parliamentary politics,” said Mashahadi, adding that this five-member committee of neutral persons would surely reach on some result.
“In case our issues are not resolved in 90 days we have other options, including agitation, protests, sit-ins etc,” he said, expressing hope that MQM would get ‘justice’.
MQM was also ready for bye-elections, he said, but government has assured to form GRC. “MQM has heavy vote bank in its constituencies and it has trust in its voters,” said MQM’s Senator.
When contacted, MQM’s Sajid Ahmed said that the government has finally accepted MQM’s political strength and accepted to form a committee. “Rest of the matters of MQM will be resolved in the GRC,” he hoped.
Another MQM’s member Salman Khan Baloch said that MQM would rejoin parliament only after the formation of GRC. “MQM lawmakers will rejoin after the notification of the committee,” said Baloch adding that the grievances of his party would thoroughly be discussed in this committee.
“We (MQM lawmakers) will share real picture with the government about target killings, disappearances of workers so that committee could reach on some findings,” he added.
Political analysts believe that the government had accepted to form a committee for its face-saving. The government will not stop Karachi operation but address some of MQM’s grievance related to disappearance of its members.
MQM after around two months staying away from parliamentary politics had decided to rejoin parliament on special assurance of government to form GRC.
The MQM lawmakers from National Assembly, Senate and the Sindh Assembly had submitted en-masse resignations around two months before (12 August) presenting 19 reasons before the government.
The government and MQM a couple of days before ended negotiations on an agreement to form a five members committee. Both the sides (MQM and government) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard.
MQM, a couple of weeks before, had also called off talks with government, saying that it was not serious in resolving their issue. MQM, some days before eid-ul-Azha, had put forth demands including lifting of undeclared ban on ‘welfare’ activities (collecting hides during Eid Ul-Azha) and Altaf Hussian’s speech on electronic media. These demands were not accepted by the government.
JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman made an attempt to woo MQM but failed to bring back in the parliament.
MQM had submitted resignations with the blame for pushing them against the wall and imposing unannounced restrictions on political, democratic and social activities. MQM holds total 53 seats in parliament including Senate.