- PPP warns MQM-P that it will be deprived of govt in Sindh if it joins federal govt
- PTI leaders uneasy over MQM-P joining coalition
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has finally decided to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in forming the government at Centre, with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) warning MQM-P that if it chooses to join the federal government, it will be deprived of government in Sindh.
Speaking on a TV show, MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui confirmed his party’s leaning after the results of the July 25 polls and said, “PPP does not need anyone in Sindh. The MQM-P will sit alongside the PTI on government benches,” he said.
The PTI had invited the party to join it in the Centre.
An earlier meeting of the party’s Rabita Committee had remained inconclusive on the matter.
Earlier, PPP had told MQM-P that it must make a choice between joining the federal government and Sindh government.
Reports suggested that senior leadership of PPP had informed the MQM of the decision that it won’t be included in the Sindh cabinet if it opts to join the PTI in Centre.
The MQM-P clinched 16 seats in the Sindh Assembly in the July 25 general election, and has six seats in the National Aseembly.
On the other hand, PTI’s offer to MQM-P that it join it on the treasury benches has caused unrest among the leaders of the party’s Karachi chapter, a private news channel reported.
Earlier this week, a PTI delegation led by Imran Khan’s pointman Jahangir Tareen flew into Karachi from Islamabad and invited former nemesis MQM-P to join the federal government.
Even with just six seats in NA, MQM-P has become an important factor in national politics since PTI lacks a simple majority in the lower house of parliament and cannot form a government on its own.
According to reports, several newly-elected party leaders, including Faisal Vawda, have opposed the decision to approach MQM-P and decided to record their protest with the party’s supreme leadership if a deal is finalised.
A PTI leader, who is not pleased with these developments, said that like-minded party workers believe that a coalition with the MQM-P would be very harmful to the party.
Others argue that a coalition with the MQM-P is the need of the hour. Those who are opposing the idea had recused themselves from accompanying a party delegation that visited MQM-P leaders at the party’s Bahadurabad office, it was reported.
PTI leaders Tareen, Arif Alvi, Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Imran Ismail had visited the MQM-P’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad area and met its convener, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, on Monday evening.
