MQM WITHDRAWS 24 HRS ULTIMATUM

Karachi-25 February 1998

The Central Co-ordination Committee of the MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) has announced to withdraw the 24-hrs ultimatum that it had issued on Tuesday night in a press conference. The announcement came in the wake of a detailed meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and a high level delegation of MQM on Wednesday morning at Karachi. The MQM had demanded the government to apprehend those Haqiqi Terrorists who were involved in the killings of eight MQM supporters and sympathisers in Korangi on 22^nd February. MQM had warned the government that if the killers were not arrested within next 24 hours, it would announce its next course of action on Wednesday night.

During the talks, the Prime Minister assured the MQM delegation that his government would take every step to apprehend the killers of MQM workers and to abolish the No Go Areas. The PM further added that he has set 5 March as a Dead Line for the fulfilment of the immediate demands of the MQM regarding the arrest of Haqiqi Terrorists, involved in the killings and kidnapping of its workers. The Central Co-ordination Committee of MQM, while considering the assurances given by the Prime Minister, has decided to withdraw the 24-hrs ultimatum until 5 March 1998.