The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), President, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that the reconciliation process among political parties could only be resumed if the PPP accepting the responsibility of manhandling of Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim makes an apology.
He was addressing a press conference here at Arbab House on Tuesday. Former chief minister Sindh, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, leaders of PML-Q Muhammad Ali Durrani, Ghaus Bukhsh Mahar, Nisar Memon were also present at the press conference.
Shujaat condemned the manhandling of Dr Arbab at Provincial Assembly premises and termed it the worst act of terrorism. He praised Dr Arbab on bearing the situation with tolerance. He said that the opposition parties had given the vote of confidence only to the Prime Minister and not the ruling alliance.
He charged PPP leadership of adopting revengeful tactics against the PML-Q workers and said that several cases have been registered at various areas against the opposition parties' activists.
Shujaat announced that all the opposition parties including PML-Q, MQM, PML-F and NPP have unanimously decided to boycott the sessions of National and all Provincial assemblies and Senate until the PPP will not make an apology. He said that the alliance has nominated Dr Arbab as Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly and Jam Madad Ali as the Deputy Opposition Leader.
However, he maintained, the MQM is not included in the decision of these nominations and they would decide to join opposition alliance after consulting their workers. "But they are with us in the decision of boycotting the assemblies' sessions and condemning the manhandling," he added. Talking to newsmen, Dr Arbab Rahim demanded a probe into the manhandling incident with him and MQM's women parliamentarians in Sindh Assembly on Monday.
He said that the presence of PPP activists at the cafeteria and lobbies of Sindh Assembly in large numbers is questionable and an independent probe should be carried out to find the persons and motives behind the scene.
Earlier, a PML-Q delegation, headed by Chaudhry Shujaat visited the head office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), known as '90' and exchanged views with the MQM leaders over the developing political scenario. The delegation also visited Kangri House and met with veteran politician and chief of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) Pir Sahab Pagara.