KARACHI: All Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) legislators have been asked to submit their resignations to deputy convener Dr Nusrat Shaukat, with MQM Chief Altaf Hussain giving the government a one-week deadline to resolve the political crisis.

Party sources told Dawn that MQM members from the Senate, Sindh Assembly and the National Assembly have been asked to submit their resignations. "They are submitting their resignations because of the drama going on in Pakistan for one month," said a party member while requesting anonymity.

When asked if this move is a bid to express solidarity with the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), the official said no.

Some channels reported that the MQM chief Altaf Hussain had ordered party members to submit their resignations at Nine-Zero, the party's headquarters in Karachi.

MQM members, who are attending the ongoing National Assembly session, are expected to submit their resignations to the convener upon their return to Karachi.

An official from the MQM media cell said that the resignations were being gathered as MQM can no longer be a part of this corrupt system.

The resignations come at a time when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) are holding protests and sit-ins against the current political system and are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif whose government they call the outcome of a rigged election.

MQM does some 'soul-searching'

An MQM leader speaking to Dawn.com said that the party’s decision to submit resignations to its convener are connected to the ongoing crisis, and are the party’s effort to do some “soul searching”.

“Legislators are making tall claims of democracy in the National Assembly,” the official said, requesting not to be named. “Pakistan is on a standstill, there is an economic breakdown since August 14 and the state machinery has come to a halt — should we really stay in this Assembly?” he said.

He added that this is the party’s way of “soul searching” and taking stock of the situation as it exists. “We want to take a critical look at ou selves,” he added.

Hitting out at the government, he said that the country would not have been in this mess had the PML-N acted sensibly.

“I mean, what was the point of Nawaz Sharif doing a 10-day Umra? They do what suits them… is this democratic?”

The MQM and PTI were at loggerheads when Imran Khan had held Altaf responsible for the killing of party leader Zahra Shahid Hussain who was shot dead on the eve of repolls after the May 11 election.

PTI had also alleged that MQM was behind massive rigging in the NA-250 constituency, a seat which was later won by PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi after the MQM announced to boycott the repoll that took place in the said constituency.

But there seemed to be an improvement in ties between the two parties after the MQM announced last week that they were ready to resign from their National Assembly seats to save democracy — a statement which was welcomed by PTI vice president Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

On the other hand, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had invited the MQM to join his ‘revolution march’ before its inception last month while MQM leader Nabil Gabol had said earlier in June that the party would offer strong resistance if Qadri was arrested.

Altaf postpones meeting

Altaf Hussain had summoned a meeting of all party members and activists at 6pm today, where he was expected to request them to relieve him of party leadership, according to a press release on the MQM website. However, the address has been delayed to tomorrow (Thursday).

The meeting will be held in Lal Qila Ground in Karachi's Azizabad.

In a statement issued from London, Altaf said he was unhappy and anxious over the political crisis in the country.

The MQM chief has also expressed disappointment over some prominent members' negligence in party affairs.

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