After 99 days in the wilderness, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday announced joining the federal and provincial governments again with immediate effect.
The MQM will take the same number of ministries in the federal and provincial governments, while the decisions regarding provincial portfolios has been left with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah. The decision was taken in a meeting between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and MQM leaders at the Sindh Governor’s House on Wednesday. The PPP delegation included the Sindh chief minister, Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani, Home Minister Manzoor Wassan and Federal Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah, while the MQM was represented by Dr Farooq Sattar, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, Raza Haroon, Adil Siddiqui, Waseem Aftab and Dr Sagheer Ahmed.
Later in the night, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani telephoned MQM chief Altaf Hussain and congratulated him over the renewed alliance between the two parties. After the meeting, Ebad told reporters that the country was facing internal and external challenges. “As a strong and disciplined party, we, after long discussions, decided to rejoin the government from today,” he said.
“The coalition partnership between the PPP and MQM is based on stabilising the country, but unfortunately because of some unpleasant conditions, the alliance could not remain intact. Even when the MQM was not part of the coalition, it refrained from acting against the government.”
“On August 19, President Asif Ali Zardari had called MQM chief Altaf Hussain and invited him to join the government. After the president, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani also called Altaf, saying the country was passing through a critical stage and there was a need to face these challenges jointly. After these developments, Altaf Hussain decided to rejoin the government,” the governor stated.
Ebad said political parties were always working for their political interests, but sometimes parties set aside their individual interest for the larger interest of the country. At this difficult time, the MQM has decided to work jointly with the government. “Rejoining the government will enable us to resolve the issues of the people. Citizens of Karachi have suffered a lot. For peace, harmony and sustainability, the MQM has decided to join the government.
The MQM ministers will hold their offices from now. The cracks that appeared between the PPP and MQM coalition have been repaired.” To a question, Qaim Ali Shah said it was clear that the PPP was not in agreement with the point of view of former senior minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza. The MQM’s decision to rejoin the government was taken days earlier when the Supreme Court of Pakistan was about to announce its decision on the suo motu notice on the Karachi situation.
Federal Minister Khursheed Ahmed Shah told reporters at the Quaid-e Azam International Airport that peace was the top priority of the government. “All stakeholders have been taken into confidence. Indiscriminative operation has been launched in the city and the resultant peace is evident.” The Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh said the MQM’s rejoining the coalition was expected.
MQM returns ‘in national interest’
