With the controversial press conference of former provincial minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza changing the political scenario of the country, negotiations between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Sindhi nationalists have begun on different fronts.
Reportedly, the MQM is negotiating with the Pakistan People’s Party and the nationalists simultaneously as the situation has taken a different turn in reconciliation between the two parties. Insiders told Pakistan Today that while the PPP-led government is yet to accept the resignations of MQM’s federal and provincial ministers, it is also not eager to bring them back into the government either.
Meanwhile, the MQM has decided to negotiate with the nationalist leaders and it was confirmed by MQM’s Faisal Subzwari, who told the media on Friday that backdoor talks with nationalists have been started as “there is a need to negotiate with permanent residents of Sindh”. It may be recalled that MQM has remained allies with nationalists in the past, especially Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), which is one of the biggest nationalist parties of the province.
Political observers are of the view that MQM was able to spread across Sindh with the support of Bashir Qureshi-led JSQM. “Despite the alliance between JSQM and the MQM breaking without any formal announcement in 2007, Abdul Wahid Arisar, Shafi Burfat groups continued to support the MQM.”
