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Saturday, March 17, 2012

MQM to boycott President’s address to Parliament

KARACHI: The Muutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced that it would boycott joint sitting of the Parliament to which President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to address to mark the beginning of the new parliamentary year.

The MQM has announced of boycotting President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the joint session of Parliament on Saturday.
The boycott will be in protest of extortion in Karachi. On Friday MQM MNA’s protested in the National Assembly and MNA Wassem Akhtar said that if measures against extortion were not taken then they would not allow President Zardari’s address to take place.
MQM MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi also stressed that only President Zardari could stop extortion in Karachi. Protests were also held in and outside the Sindh Assembly as the MQM and Karachi traders announced that they would be observing a black day in the city on Saturday.
Earlier, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers protested inside the Sindh Assenbly while a large number of its workers protested outside against extortion and Parchi Mafia.
The MQM legislators chanted slogans against extortion inside the provincial assembly in front of the desk of the Speaker. Deputy Speaker Shahla Raza presided over the session which was later adjourned till Monday, 10 am. The speaker held MQM’s attitude responsible for the adjournment.
MQM MPAs were holding placards inscribed with slogans against extortion and asking Sindh Chief Minister to take notice of the situation.
Earlier, a joint emergent meeting of MQM Coordination Committee Pakistan and London chapters decided to protest against extortionist mafia in and outside Sindh Assembly on Friday. Online