MQM denies ever pressing for Zardari's resignation

Islamabad, Nov.3 (ANI): The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has denied issuing any statement which asked for President Asif Ali Zardari's resignation.

According to reports, a delegation of MQM leaders led by the leader of the party in parliament Dr. Farooq Sattar met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to clarify its stance over the issue.

The delegation, which included Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Babar Awan, Petroleum Minister Syed Naveed Qamar and other senior party leaders, rejected media reports that the MQM president Altaf Hussain has asked Zardari to step down, The Nation reports.

Earlier, it was reported that Hussain while asking his party leaders to oppose the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in parliament had advised Zardari to tender his resignation.

Hussain, during an interview with a private television channel, said that he has directed his party members to oppose the NRO in parliament, and that he had also told the President that the ordinance was a 'black law'.

Hussain said the government should not table the ordinance in the House as the people of the country have already rejected it.

He, however, later clarified that he never asked for Zardari's resignation.

"I did not talk about Zardari's resignation in the entire interview. We are not against the Pakistan People's Party or Zardari. The MQM is not responsible if our advice is misunderstood. Neither can the MQM become a party to legalising corruption through the assembly," Hussain said. (ANI)