The MuttahidaQaumi Movement (MQM) will have to pay the price of losing its strength in Senate if its lawmakers’ resignations are accepted, however, party chief Altaf Hussain believes in having won the political battle by building pressure on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government and having grabbed media attention by tendering resignations from assemblies.
Sources in the federal government informed Pakistan Today that the exit of MQM legislators from the Senate would not only badly damage MQM but would have political implications for the PML-N government besides benefitting Pakistan People’s Party who would win almost all the seats vacated by MQM.
In Sindh Assembly, PPP has strength of 91 MPAs while the MQM has 51 lawmakers.
“If the resignations of MQM legislators from the Upper House of the Parliament are accepted, the MQM would lose the right of representation of the people of urban Sindh in the Senate. They would be only able to win representation again after 2018,” a source in the PML-N government said.
The source added that even if the by polls are held and the MQM decides to again take part in the by-election, it cannot win all 51 seats as “the people of Karachi are happy with the return of peace to Karachi”.
“Even if the MQM wins all seats, it can only win four Senate seats of Senate given seat adjustment with PPP. If the PPP does not agree, it can win from six to seven seats. This would again leave PPP better placed as it would take away MQM’s share. Even if the MQM is able to again win its 51 seats, it can’t win all eight seats and the situation would benefit the PPP,” the source added.
The source said that the MQM would be able to take part in the Senate elections after 2018. The source added that though the MQM had gotten some success in political terms, they could face a tough situation if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif abandons Altaf Hussain.
GOVT TO SIT ON RESIGNATIONS:
Meanwhile, in a bid to save the MQM leadership from public embarrassment, the federal government is mulling to adopt a strategy to get their resignations authenticated individually – a fit case to not accept the resignations under cover of legal obligations.
A consultative meeting between leaders of parliamentary political parties and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday decided not to immediately accept resignations by MQM lawmakers.
During the meeting, the prime minister vowed to increase communication with the MQM in an effort to keep them involved in the democratic process.
According to sources, the meeting was not attended by leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The prime minister had called the meeting of parliamentary party leaders after consulting with senior federal ministers and legal experts earlier in the day.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and legal experts were part of the earlier consultation, during which the political situation following the resignations of the MQM lawmakers and the different political and legal options available to the government were discussed.
FAZL TO THE RESCUE:
Moreover, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman on Thursday was tasked with the responsibility to convince MQM lawmakers to withdraw their resignations submitted a day earlier.
Addressing journalists outside Parliament House, Fazl said that Khursheed Shah had tasked him with the responsibility “to contact Altaf Hussain and MQM leadership so that they agree to take back their resignations and return to the Parliament”.
He said MQM’s actions could cause a political crisis and that he will make efforts to defuse the situation.
The JUI-F further said that he will consult constitutional experts before approaching MQM lawmakers and added that positives signs had also been received from the MQM.
Fazl said that he had already his stance on the situation that once the resignations are submitted or are sent to the speaker’s chamber, then the resignations cannot be taken back as per the constitution.
ZAFAR SAYS RESIGNATIONS ALREADY ACCEPTED:
In the meanwhile, senior lawyer SM Zafar says that under the law, the resignations tendered by the MQM legislators had already been accepted and the government was violating the Constitution and the law by dilly dallying the matter.
“Under the law, the resignations have already been accepted and there is no other way. The government is violating the law by not accepting these resignations. If the government kept playing with fire by violating the law, anyone can violate the Constitution,” he added.
ALTAF HUSSAIN PRAISES LAWMAKERS FOR LOYALTY:
Furthermore, a source in the MQM told Pakistan Today that soon after the resignations tendered by his party’s lawmakers, MQM chief Altaf addressed his party’s leaders on Wednesday evening and showered praises on them for being loyal to the party and his leadership.
“AltafBhai looked very happy after testing the loyalty of his party’s lawmakers. He told them they had come to the trust of the party and had sent a strong message to all concerned that the MQM stands united against all odds,” the source added.
The source said that the MQM chief looked happy and confident after the resignations move and that he was not worried about the resignations.
