KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, PML-F and PML-N on Friday moved resolutions condemning recent statements of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain in the Sindh Assembly.

The PTI celebrated the development as a historic move as it managed to persuade the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Sohrab Sarki to sign its resolution.

Amidst protest and sloganeering from MQM lawmakers, the resolutions calling for the government to take notice of the statements of the MQM supremo and "take legal action against Altaf" were submitted in the presence of Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

The Sindh Assembly Speaker moved the resolutions in the House and called for a vote. After majority voted in favour of the resolutions, the speaker concluded, "The ayes have it," and adjourned the session until Aug 10.

The PTI resolution submitted under Rule 256 of the Sindh Assembly rules says, "This House condemns the statements of Altaf Hussain asking for intervention by foreign institutions and countries in the internal matters of Pakistan. His statements asking for the breakup of Sindh are also strongly condemned."

The resolution went on to say it approached the Sindh government to take notice of these statements, and take action against the MQM supremo. The resolution was signed by Samar Ali Khan from PTI.

Shafi Muhammad Jamot from the PML-N and Nand Kumar of the PML-F also passed resolutions against the MQM chief in the Sindh Assembly.

Speaking to Dawn.com Samar Ali Khan said, "We submitted one resolution two weeks ago when Altaf Hussain started off on Rangers and the military. Day before yesterday, we submitted another one ─ Altaf Hussain specific."

He condemned Hussain for asking foreign countries to get involved in Pakistan's matters, dubbing it "very unpatriotic".

He said that the resolution was based on several points ─ one is Altaf Hussain's appeal to United Nations, Nato and India for intervention; the second is language used by Hussain against the military and Rangers, and the third is Hussain asking to break up Sindh.

PPP shows support

The PPP's Nisar Khuhro while addressing the press outside the Sindh Assembly said the party also supported the resolutions moved by the PTI, PML-F and PML-N.

He said the PPP was against any attack on Sindh or the breakup of Sindh. "Any attack on Sindh is like an attack on the entire country ... We will not tolerate future attacks on Sindh."

He said the MQM had been included in the government not just by the PPP but by all parties. "We've always urged politics to be kept separately from militancy."

MQM submits resolutions against PPP, PTI

After resolutions were passed against Altaf Hussain, the MQM submitted two resolutions in the Sindh Assembly against PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and PTI chairman Imran Khan.

The party said the resolution against Zardari was made on the basis of a speech made by him in June, during which he issued statements against national institutions.

The MQM has previously already filed a resolution against Imran Khan for 'anti-Army' remarks.

MQM MPA Muhammad Hussain Khan spoke about a media trial against Altaf Hussain, saying that while Imran Khan and Zardari's words were on record, they had not been given the same media attention that Altaf's statements had.

"We thought there was an understanding that no motion would be passed against any party. That chapter has closed. We will now fulfil our role. On Monday, we will raise these motions and hope they are debated in the Sindh Assembly."

Another MQM MPA Heer Soho said, "Their leaders are not innocent ... If they want to play politics, we will also play politics."

Also read: PTI, MQM battle it out with resolutions in Sindh Assembly

MQM's letters to Indian High Commission

Letters purportedly written by the MQM addressing the Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan surfaced on Thursday.

MQM lawmaker Farooq Sattar in a press conference said that "no letter has been written to the Indian High Commissioner regarding the arrest of party activists".

"If any of our leaders' letters written to diplomats included the email address of Indian High Commissioner then it can be a technical error but it was not an intentional effort," he clarified, not stating the exact contents of the letter or whom it was sent by.

Also read: 'MQM' letters to Indian HC sought help over missing workers