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Karachi: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Friday withdrew his resignation from the post an hour after the announcement of his decision to quit evoked emotional responses from his followers.
Hussain, who has been living in a self-imposed exile in London since the early 1990s, announced his surprise decision to quit the leadership owning responsibility for his failure to stop day-long violence on April 9 in which 12 people were killed.
Six of the victims were burnt to death in a building which was set on fire by unidentified men.
The lawyers, campaigning for the restoration of deposed chief justice, alleged that the MQM was responsible for the burning of the building. But Hussain called it propaganda and said the victims were the staunch supporters of the MQM.
"Those who burnt the MQM supporters alive will face the wrath of God," he said in his emotional speech on telephone which was being heard by hundreds of supporters at the party headquarters.
He, however, criticised the members of his party for their failure in controlling the violence. "I am quitting the leadership ... now the MQM's coordination committee should run the party affairs," he said.
Soon many of his supporters were seen weeping and urging their leader to withdraw the decision.
All the lawmakers, party office bearers, the mayor of Karachi and members of the city council announced that they would resign if Hussain does not change his decision. After almost an hour of hectic efforts by the leaders, Hussain announced his decision.
Hussain said that his party would work for peace and stability in the country and fully support the move for national reconciliation.
"We have decided to end the boycott of both the National and Sindh provincial Assembly," he told his supporters.
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