It was also later reported this morning that the party had decided to resign from the Sindh Assembly as well, where it has 54 seats.
A meeting of MQM members chaired by Murtaza Javed Abbasi was held in National Assembly premises.
According to latest reports, the resignations of 23 MQM MNAs have been accepted by the NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. The Speaker sought personal confirmation from each MNA, before notifying them. Mr. Sadiq then sent all the resignations to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
PM’s message to NA Speaker
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has sent a message to the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, asking him not to accept the resignations tendered by MQM MNAs.
Sources confided to the ARY News that PM has assured of listening and resolving complaints of Mutahidda.
ARY News Islamabad bureau chief Sabir Shakir said PM had also urged the MQM not to submit resignations.
Resignations submitted to Sindh Assembly
The MQM lawmakers led by Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly and party member Khwaja Izharul Hassan has submitted to the Provincial Assembly.
MQM chief also expressed resentment to party workers for their delay in submitting the resignations.
The resignations have now been submitted to the SA Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.
Five MQM Senators also join ‘mass resignations’ mode
Earlier, Farooq Sattar told media while entering parliament that all senators, MNAs and MNAs of the party will resign today.
Later in his speech to the House, Sattar said the MQM was being subjected to state oppression. Ban on speeches of Altaf Hussaion is against constitution and unlawful, he lamented.
He said the entire Karachi operation is targeted against the MQM. Besides, false cases are being registered against Altaf Hussain, said Sattar.
He said Rangers were making way for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Karachi.
Senator Tahir Mashhadi, has said that five senators of the party have submitted their resignations to the parliamentary leader, while remaining three MQM members of the upper house will also submit their resignation letters .
The meeting of MQM members has also been underway in Sindh Assembly building with Khawaja Izharul Hassan in chair. Izharul Hassan has said that the resignations will be submitted after consultations.
Altaf endorses MQM move
According to party sources, MQM chief Altaf Hussain has endorsed the Rabita Committee decision. If the party goes ahead, 25 seats of the National Assembly and 54 in the Sindh Assembly could see bye-elections. The House has a total strength of 342 which means that over 7 per cent of the total NA seats will be affected by this decision, if it is carried out by the party. The Sindh Assembly has a total of 130 seats.