Islamabad: A delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders reached Punjab House for a second round of talks with the government on Tuesday, with the first round of negotiations ending successfully the previous day.
Talks led by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman ended positively on Monday night, as the MQM said it would reconsider its decision to quit assemblies after the government agreed to form a ‘Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC)’ to look into the party’s grievances over the ongoing operation in Karachi.
Lawmakers of the MQM resigned from the assemblies and Senate over complaints of its workers being targeted and politically victimised in the operation against criminal elements in Karachi.
Following the resignations, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had tasked coalition partner Maulana Fazlur Rehman to play the role of a mediator and woo the MQM back to the legislatures.
The marathon talks achieved a breakthrough on Monday night when the MQM assured it would reconsider its resignations after the government agreed on the formation of a committee to redress the party’s grievances.
A delegation of MQM leaders arrived at the Punjab House on Tuesday morning for a second round of talks which is expected to discuss and decide on the committee’s composition, modalities and terms of reference.
