No breakthrough in PM-Ebad talks

Contrary to the media’s speculation about an early return of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to the federal and Sindh governments, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on Wednesday failed to achieve a breakthrough in talks, as the Sindh chief minister sought time to implement the “wish list” put forth by the MQM. The MQM has demanded two crucial ministries of Sindh – the ministries of Interior and Local Government, Pakistan Today has learnt. However, there was no confirmation of a follow-up meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and the Sindh governor until late on Wednesday. President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the president would arrive in Pakistan today (Thursday) and no meeting had been lined up with Ebad.
A PPP source said Gilani telephoned Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to tell him about MQM’s demands, but Shah told the PM that meeting these demands was “out of his mandate” and he would have to seek the approval from the top party leadership. “It seems the MQM has put forth unrealistic and tough demands with a design to fail the talks. For the PPP, both ministries are imperative to govern the province and governance looks a day-dream without each,” the PPP leader said. He said since the PPP Sindh leadership was not willing to hand over charge of both ministries to the MQM, it seemed President Zardari would have to call the final shots. An MQM insider, however, confirmed that his party had demanded the two ministries to give a final push to the PPP’s faltering Sindh government. “It would be a win-win situation for the MQM. We are happy to stay in the opposition. However, if the PPP wants us to switch sides, they would have to compromise and without paying a political cost on their part, we are in no mood to join the treasury benches,” the MQM leader added.
He said the PPP had already paid a political price for ditching the MQM and somersaulting on the local government system. “Even if the PPP now overturns the local government ordinance, they would be losers in interior Sindh while we have made the point to our voters,” he said. MQM leader Raza Haroon said there was no feedback of the meeting between Ebad and Gilani. He said both sides were engaged in talks and the Rabita Committee would review the progress once the Sindh governor returned to Karachi and gave his feedback.