Although the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was successful in gathering all stakeholders – including government officials, political parties and people from all walks of life – at its iftar party on Wednesday, there was no breakthrough in the dialogues that would suggest MQM’s return in the federal and provincial governments.
Politicians, including MQM’s parliamentarians, were reluctant to discuss the return of MQM to the coalition government in the Centre and Sindh. MQM Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar was asked several times about MQM’s return to the coalition set-up and the talks between Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, but Sattar requested every time not to discuss the subject.
“Peace in Karachi and Sindh is the prime priority of the MQM, and talks about their return to the coalition government are happening, but there in no major breakthrough yet. If any development takes place, then it would be made public,” Sattar said. The purpose of the get-together was to invite all stakeholders at one platform, he added.
Information Minister Sharjeel Memon was also reluctant to discuss the ongoing discussions between the MQM and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) about the former’s return to the coalition government. “There is nothing final in politics. We were coalition partners in the past, and there is a possibility that we shall be on the same page again,” Memon said.
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah did not show any interest in sharing his views. However, Home Minister Manzoor Wasan said, “Whatever I have dreamt between Shaban 1 and 15 in the past has turned into reality.” He expressed hope again regarding the return of the MQM to the coalition government.
He said that the law enforcement agencies, including the police, have failed to deliver. When Inspector General of Police Wajid Durrani was requested to comment on the home minister’s statement, Durrani refused and left the iftar party quietly. When Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Sardar Raheem was asked about the return of the MQM in the federal and provincial governments and the party’s dream of a grand alliance, he requested not to discuss the issue at this platform. The Awami National Party (ANP) boycotted MQM’s iftar party because PPP leaders were also attending the event. When contacted, ANP Spokesman Qadir Khan said that the central leadership of the ANP had directed them not to attend the iftar party in protest against the revival of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance.