In contrast to the claims by the PPP, the MQM is unlikely to rejoin its former coalition partners in Islamabad and Karachi, Pakistan Today learnt on Saturday. Sources within the MQM said there was no chance of the party returning to the federal as well as provincial governments as the decision to part ways with the PPP was taken after a lengthy deliberation.
Quoting MQM Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar, the sources said, “Our alliance was for the sake of the people, power has never been our goal,” adding that they would continue to play the “democratic role as the opposition”. They confirmed that though the PPP was trying to revive relations by using different tactics including delaying accepting Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad’s resignation and allotment of seats on the opposition benches but the MQM was determined to stick to its decision, adding that Ebad’s resignation would not be withdrawn.
MQM Coordination Committee member and spokesman Wasay Jalil said the party was unlikely to reverse its decision. On the other hand, MQM parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Syed Sardar Ahmed denied any report regarding contacts with the PPP or any sort of negotiations for tracing its way back into the coalition.
Meanwhile, efforts for a grand opposition alliance were underway and PML-N central leader as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is leaving for London today (Sunday) to meet MQM chief Altaf Hussain and set the groundwork for the grand opposition alliance and MQM’s inclusion in it.Even though both parties keep denying any scheduled meeting, they did not deny a possibility of Shahbaz–Altaf assembly.
Sources said Shahbaz’s meeting with Altaf would be a major step in the formation of the grand opposition alliance. Senator Pervaiz Rashid told Pakistan Today that Shahbaz was going to London for a check up. However, in response to a question about Shahbaz’s likely meeting with Altaf during his stay, Rashid said possibilities were always there. Jalil too could not deny the possibility of both MQM and PML-N leaders meeting in London to forge a grand alliance against the PPP.
