The Dawn
Internet Edition

1 November 1999

MQM rebels back into party fold
By Our Staff Correspondent

LONDON, Oct 31: Nine former members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement have withdrawn their resignations from the party after day-long talks with MQM convener Dr Imran Farooq at the party's international secretariat here, the MQM said on Sunday night.

They had resigned some two months ago because of their differences with the Central Coordination Committee of the party, which they accused of adopting a soft approach towards the former government.

The rebels, including Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad, Nadeem Nusrat, Mohammad Anwar, Saleem Shahzad, Anis Ahmad(advocate), Syed Zulfikar Haider(advocate), Wasay Jalil and Dr Sagheer Ansari, had been asking the party leadership to adopt a hard line in dealing with the government and had indirectly suggested measures, that the party thought, would have taken the MQM outside the parameters of the law and the Constitution.

Many, however, believe that the formation of the splinter group was a pressure tactic by the MQM and an indirect signal that if the situation did not improve, things could go out of control.

Although the rebels had resigned from the party, they continued to be loyal to MQM chief.

The MQM said that during Sunday's meeting, the rebels had explained their viewpoint."Dr Imran Farooq told them that their point of view and suggestions, falling within the parameters of the Constitution, will be seriously considered and accommodated by the Coordination Committee," a press release of the party said.

It said the rebels, at the request of Dr Farooq, had agreed to withdraw their resignations immediately.

Dr Farooq later informed the Central Coordination Committee of the party about the decision, which was welcomed by the committee and termed a "positive step" in the struggle for the attainment of rights.

The committee also lauded Dr Farooq's efforts to bring the rebels back into the party's fold.