The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has conditioned its return to the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government – both at the central and provincial levels – with a strict disciplinary action against Zulfiqar Mirza that includes termination of his basic membership of the PPP.
A source in the PPP told Pakistan Today that Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad had told PPP’s interlocutor Khurshid Shah that the MQM would never rejoin the coalition government until the PPP announced a “total and permanent” disassociation with Zulfiqar Mirza.
“The MQM admits PPP’s stance that neither President [Asif Ali] Zardari nor any other central leader of the PPP is behind Mirza’s assault on the MQM and is also satisfied with the government functionaries’ statements disowning Mirza’s charges levelled against the MQM. But at the same time it demands strict disciplinary action against the former Sindh home minister,” the source added.
He said the MQM had told the top PPP leadership that acceptance of Mirza’s resignation from the government as well as party offices was not sufficient and the PPP would have to go many steps forward and terminate his basic membership of the party.
“The MQM’s top brass also wants firm assurance from the PPP that Mirza will never be pardoned and the party will not welcome him, on any condition, in the PPP’s fold,” he added.
On the other hand, the source said President Zardari was upset over Mirza’s betrayal and rebutted the impression being created by a few that Mirza was bashing the MQM at his behest before some of his close aides.
“President Zardari told one of the top politicians of the country belonging to PPP’s coalition partner party that Zulfiqar Mirza’s emotional outburst had damaged his 40-year-old friendship with Mirza,” the source said, adding that President Zardari was particularly perturbed on the question that which force was backing Mirza to go all out against the MQM even at the cost of his precious friendship with him (Zardari).
The source said the PPP central command was likely to terminate Mirza’s basic party membership to assuage the furious MQM.
MQM wants Mirza penalised before it rejoins government
