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Following the resignation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers from both houses of parliament, party chief Altaf Hussain said that the MQM Rabita (Coordination) Committee will decide the further course of action regarding participation in by-polls to be held on the vacated seats.
Altaf Hussain in an interview with Geo television's Hamid Mir on Wednesday, also said that he will not issue any statement which would hurt the integrity of the country's institutions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan tweeted on country's current political situation and said, "A tale of 2 resignations: One to investigate an election where all parties claimed election was rigged; & the other to save target killers."
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| Tweet by PTI chairman Imran Khan |
Earlier during the day, MQM leader Farooq Sattar had also alleged that his party was being targeted in the Karachi operation to create political space for PTI and the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi.
Kanwar Dilshad, a former secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan who also oversaw the 2008 general elections, said that after the NA Speaker's notification regarding the acceptance of MQM parliamentarians' resignations is received by the ECP, it is obligatory on the commission to conduct by-elections in the constituencies vacated by the lawmakers within 60 days.
Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj, while talking to DawnNews later in the day, said he will not accept the MQM resignations in a haste.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the government has not issued a notification accepting resignations by MQM's legislators. He stated that if MQM takes back their resignations, the government would work towards resolving their grievances.
Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan, belonging to the ruling PML-N, said that for the sake of democracy's survival in the country the government will try to stop the MQM lawmakers from resigning.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that although the MQM legislators had tendered their resignations he did not consider the move as a good omen. He added that the resignations of the MQM legislators would create a crisis situation in the country.
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Senator Sirajul Haq has said that the MQM's sudden and unexpected decision to quit from the assemblies was both surprising and sentimental. He added that in Pakistan, political parties were weak but the leaders were comparatively stronger, and politics revolved around the interests of personalities instead of principles.
Earlier during the day, prior to the submission of the resignations by the MQM lawmakers, Awami Muslim League chief Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad said that presence of Muttahida legislators in the National Assembly was important.
He was of the view that in the prevailing situation in Karachi, MQM lawmakers should not tender their resignations.
