As ice melted between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the former claimed a major breakthrough suggesting that its former ally would soon rejoin the coalition with Ishratul Ebad withdrawing his resignation while the latter rejected the government claims, reiterating its stance that the party would stay on the opposition benches. However, the MQM showed considerable flexibility by assuring the government of its support on positive steps.
Marathon consultations and meetings at the top government level continued throughout the day with President Asif Ali Zardari also contacting Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain late on Thursday night. The PPP co-chairman assured his former ally that his party’s grievances would be removed and reprimanded Sindh Senior Minister Zulfiqar Mirza, falling short of any action against him for his outburst that fuelled the already boiling city of Karachi causing 17 deaths.
Meetings: PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who had recently visited MQM’s headquarters in Karachi on behalf of President Zardari with an olive branch, held meetings with the president and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. These meetings triggered speculation in electronic media that the MQM had agreed to return to the treasury benches. While no government spokesman spoke on-the-record to the media, the MQM chief and all his lieutenants immediately reacted to the “news break” on TV channels and clearly said the party would not rejoin the government.