MQM chief quits, withdraws resignation within 60 minutes
Following immense pressure from within the MQM and demands to review his decision to step down as party chief, MQM founder Altaf Hussain withdrew his resignation about an hour after he announced it, saying that he was prepared to offer unconditional friendship to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.
“Even if Nawaz chooses to curse at me, I offer him my unconditional friendship,” he told several hundred MQM supporters, leaders and Rabita Committee members on Friday at the MQM headquarters Nine-Zero, Geo News reported. “I am even prepared to join the PML-N to keep the peace,” he added.
Addressing the meeting by telephone, the MQM chief said that the MQM Legal Aid Committee had been targeted.
Criticises: Altaf said that the committee members had been staging a peaceful demonstration, but opponent lawyers attacked them without provocation. “After the violent riots erupted in Karachi, I asked Rabita Committee members and representatives to quit their work and restore peace in the city,” he said. “This city belongs to all and everybody is responsible for keeping law and order here,” he said.
Earlier, Altaf Hussain had announced that he was stepping down as party chief in protest against his party leadership’s inability to contain the April 9 violence in Karachi.
Courtesy: Daily Times
Altaf’s 4th resignation since Jan 2007
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s announcement of resignation as the party head on Friday was his fourth since January 2007. The last time he announced resignation was in July 2007. On January 5, 2007, Altaf had announced his resignation citing deteriorating health as the reason. According to the MQM’s website, he was displeased with the extravagant lifestyle of party leaders. He took back his resignation the same day, after workers pressed him to reconsider his decision. An MQM member said Hussain had also considered resigning in March 2007. He announced resignation again on June 11, 2007, again citing health problems, while addressing a gathering of supporters by telephone. In 2005, he offered to quit six times, for similar reasons. irfan ali
Courtesy: Daily Times
