Muttahida’s return dashes ‘Q’ hopes

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The abrupt and surprised announcement of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to return to the treasury benches certainly brought respite for the concerned Gilani-Zardari duo but dashed the plot designed by some PML-Q ‘wishful elements’ who had planned to get all promises made to the Chaudhrys of Gujrat by President Asif Ali Zardari fulfilled by showing the Q muscle power in a time when the PML-N was putting pressure to push the ruling party to a tight spot.
The PML-Q ministers on October 4 submitted their resignations to their party president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, at a ‘ripe time’ to press government for accepting the PML-Q’s long-standing ‘charter of demands’. But, when the Chaudhrys met President Zardari on the following day, they were told by the presidential aides that the MQM was all set to rejoin the coalition government in the night, further telling the PML-Q leaders that their ‘pressure tactic’ had lost its strength and timing.
The news of MQM’s return to the coalition government, evaporated the PML-Q’s anger over its coalition partner – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – in the air in less than twenty-four hours when the party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, after his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari on October 5, announced that both the allies would contest next elections jointly.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Talib Nakai, PML-Q MNA and chairman parliamentary body on petroleum, said there was a concern among the party lawmakers over the PPP leadership’s failure in honouring commitments made with the PML-Q at the time of power-sharing deal in May this year. “The PML-Q in its parliamentary party meeting had decided that the party would take strong position against the PPP’s indifferent attitude towards ‘Q’ lawmakers … the PML-Q MNAs were worried about delay in release of development funds while our ministers complained that they had no authority,” Nakai said.
He said the Chaudhrys swift rapprochement with the PPP had made the PML-Q’s position weak. “Hasty decisions taken by the PML-Q leadership have created more troubles for the party’s future … the PPP-PML-Q alliance is unlikely to remain intact,” Nakai said, adding that the PML-Q parliamentarians would again push the Chaudhrys for a taking a strict stance against the government.
Nakai said in his opinion, the MQM factor had pushed the PML-Q leadership to shun its hard stance against the ‘beleaguered’ PPP government.
Another central leader of the party said the government’s lack of interest in doing legislation for deputy prime minister slot for Elahi, delay on part of the prime minister in release of development funds for PML-Q lawmakers, non-finalisation of seat adjustment formula between two allies, prime minister’s imposed ban on jobs in federal government, no allocation of portfolios for two special assistants to the premier, PPP’s reluctance in launching offensive against the PML-N government in Punjab, sidelining of ‘Q’ ministers/advisors in Sindh by Qaim Ali Shah government, non-formation of commissions on Saraiki and Hazara provinces and the failure in providing relief to Moonis were the source of friction between two coalition partners.
He said it was unfortunate that the PML-Q leadership reconciled with President Zardari before getting party lawmakers’ demands met by the government. “The PML-Q ministers and MNAs have serious reservations with the prime minister and they think that Gilani might be working on the behest of Nawaz Sharif to spoil the PPP-PML-Q alliance by not honouring commitments made by PPP Co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari with the PML-Q. After MQM’s rejoining the coalition government, the prime minister is unlikely to give weight to the PML-Q parliamentarians’ demands and request,” he added.
He said the PML-Q had selected a ripe time to pressurise the beleaguered PPP for acceptance of its demands but the Muttahida spoiled the whole ‘drama’.
The PML-Q parliamentarians and ministers, who had expressed serious reservations over Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s ‘non-cooperative’ attitude towards them in the parliamentary party meeting last week, are not happy with the Chaudhrys for a ‘swift rapprochement’ with the PPP leadership. “We were not taken into confidence on before-time reconciliation with the government … though it was a political gimmick to press the government for accepting PML-Q’s charter of demands but the Chaudhrys’ complete surrender before President Zardari in only one meeting not only spoiled PML-Q’s bargaining position but also exposed party’s weakness,” said a PML-Q minister seeking not to be named.
Another PML-Q leader said his party’s ministers were also unhappy over prime minister’s imposed ban on fresh appointments in federal organisations. “The ministers complain that they are unable to give jobs to their voters in their ministries and their attached departments and the prime minister had rejected their requests of lifting ban on new appointments,” he added.
Ameer Muqam, PML-Q’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter head, told Pakistan Today that his stance vis-à-vis PPP government was crystal clear and he was against forging alliance with the PPP. “I resigned from the ministership and since then never backtracked from my decision … Ch Shujaat should tell the media and nation about the problems solved in last five months since the PML-Q became part of the coalition government,” said Muqam. He said 95% PML-Q leaders and workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were against staying in alliance with the PPP.