The ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has delayed the acceptance of resignations from the ministers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for an indefinite period, as it is engaged in persuading its annoyed former coalition partner at the highest level.
“We are in no hurry to accept [their] resignations. We are persuading our MQM friends and efforts are being made at the highest level up to President Asif Ali Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain [to bring back the MQM in the government],” said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday.
He expressed these views while speaking with a select group of journalists, invited to cover a ceremony organised for celebrating ‘Provincial Autonomy Day’ at the Chief Minister’s House.
According to the journalists present on the occasion, despite being officially invited, representatives from the MQM and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) did not attend the ceremony. However, leaders of the PML-Functional, Awami National Party and National People’s Party were present there.
At the Provincial Autonomy Day function, the provincial chief minister said that both the parties [PPP and MQM] have remained together for three years in the coalition and the PPP wants to continue the alliance for the remaining two years also. “Disagreements are a part of politics and efforts are being made to convince [MQM] as they are our good friends.”
Hinting that PPP is in no mood of taking advantage of MQM’s absence in the assembly for passing all bills on which the MQM had reservations, especially the local government system, he replied, “We are no in hurry,” when asked if the PPP would table all bills in the Sindh Assembly, pending due to MQM’s reservations for a long time.
Acting Sindh Governor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro was also present on the occasion and told the journalists that he had asked the MQM ministers to reconsider their decision, when they had submitted their resignations to him. “I had told them that they [MQM members] should continue the national reconciliation policy.”
“It was because of the national reconciliatory policy of all political parties that the provinces have been able to achieve autonomy,” he added.
Without mentioning the PML-Nawaz leadership, Khuhro said that some rulers could not implement provincial autonomy despite enjoying two-thirds majority in the National Assembly in the past.
Responding to a question, the acting governor said that he was unaware that MQM members in the Sindh Assembly have formally applied for allotment of Opposition benches. To another question, he replied that the Constitution is silent about a time limit for the acceptance of resignations of ministers.