ISLAMABAD - At least three major leaders from different political parties contacted MQM leader Farooq Sattar on Saturday, persuading him to reconsider his party’s decision.
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, Opposition Leader in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah and Finance Minister Dar talked to Farooq Sattar over phone and asked him to reconsider his party’s decision of going ahead with the resignations of their lawmakers, a statement from MQM said.
Sattar expressed his party’s reservations over Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s attitude during his visit to Karachi. According to the party, all three leaders assured Sattar that MQM’s grievances will be addressed.
Sattar also conveyed to Khursheed Shah his party’s concerns over the role of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who he said has not responded positively to MQM’s demand for a committee to monitor the Karachi operation. MQM says Shah also later talked to prime minister over telephone and apprised him about his talk with Farooq Sattar.
Besides Dr Farooq Sattar , JUI-F chief had a telephonic contact with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while staying back in his home town Dera Ismail Khan. He urged both sides to show flexibility and sit across the table to resolve the issue through negotiations.
Sources in the ruling PML-N told The Nation that Dar told Fazl that they were surprised over the reaction of MQM leadership over the prime minister’s speech in Karachi by announcing disengagement to dialogue. He requested Fazl to persuade MQM to retract their resignations as government was ready to address their genuine concerns, including formation of monitoring committee to oversee the operation.
Sources further informed that JUI-F chief was also surprised by the sudden move of MQM Rabita Committee announcing disengagement with all sort of negotiations and even requesting Fazl to not play the role of mediator anymore.
Sources in JUI-F said that Fazl had not given up hope however and in a next couple of days he would be meeting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as MQM leaders in federal capital to get them back on the negotiation table.
The sources further said that Fazl could even talk to MQM chief Altaf Hussain after taking input from the prime minister. He would reach Islamabad today and most likely meet Premier Sharif on Monday or Tuesday.