Federal and provincial ministers from MQM resigned on Tuesday after their Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) quit the government in protest.
The MQM on Monday said it would join the opposition ranks at the national level and in Sindh, citing the “dictatorial” and “brutal” approach of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party.
The move has left the PPP with a slender majority in the national government, and analysts believe it could ultimately lead to snap polls.
“Our 14 ministers in the Sindh provincial government tendered their resignations today,” MQM spokesman Wasey Jalil said.
Its three ministers in the federal government have also sent their resignations to the president, Jalil told AFP, making good on the party’s declaration on Monday.
Sindh governor Ishratul Ibad, who also belongs to the MQM, also sent his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari, Ibad’s spokesman Syed Wajahat Ali told AFP.
“It is difficult to go along with the Pakistan People’s Party, keeping in view its undemocratic and dictatorial attitude,” senior MQM official Farooq Sattar had told reporters.
Sattar said the row had been triggered by a dispute over election results in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which were won by the PPP and have been challenged by MQM.
PPP’s secretary-general, Jehangir Badar, said the party hoped to persuade the MQM to rejoin the government.
“We are hopeful to get the MQM again in the coalition. We’ll make every effort to do this,” he said.
It is the second time this year that the MQM has quit the government. In January it left only to rejoin the coalition in the space of a week, following a compromise by the PPP to save its government.
Analysts say the MQM’s latest decision may be based on the prediction of new elections.
“They are sensing possibility of an early election so they quit the unpopular government to prepare for the polls,” political analyst Ejaz Haider told AFP.
