After knocking practically at all doors, a frustrated Maulana Fazlur Rehman has left for Umrah while MQM chief Altaf Hussain has said he is unhappy over the decision to leave the federal cabinet and if the government works for the welfare of the people, then the MQM would continue to support it. This is a come down from the fuming and fretting witnessed just a couple of days back. Meanwhile, JUI(F) chiefs demand for the removal of Prime Minister Gilani has met with strong disapproval not only from important PPP leaders but also from PML(Q) circles. It remains a matter of conjecture whether the move by the two smaller parties was undertaken at the behest of the establishment or was aimed at creating friction between the President and Prime Minister. The MQM and JUI(F) have tested the limits of their political clout to find that they are simply ineffective in bringing about a government change without the support of the mainstream PML(N). It is immaterial whether the decision by PML(N) not to encourage the two parties is motivated by the recent WikiLeaks revelations showing that the party was even less acceptable to the establishment than PPP, or enlightened self-interest or by a principled adherence to the CoD. What is clear is that the party would not be a part of any attempt to dislocate the government in midstream. Its sudden opening of hostilities with MQM is meant to send a strong signal about its stance.
The JUI(F) has made it clear it would not have left the coalition if its nominee Azam Swati was not removed from the cabinet. The MQM has, however, talked in a roundabout way about the differences that led its ministers to resign. At times it maintains that it was not being taken on board when policy decisions were debated. At other times it complains about corruption and anti people decisions, citing the price hike as one. It has been suggested by some that the real bone of contention is the delay in the revival of local governments.
Whether the two outfits return to the ruling coalitions fold or not, the party will not be over as long as the PML(N) does not support the governments overthrow. But then the PPP will have to ensure that Mian Nawazs reservations are redressed. It remains to be seen if the government yields to the pressures of the two smaller parties or decides to reach an accommodation with the PML(N).
