Tag: Mqm

ISLAMABAD - The spiralling bitterness between the PML-N and MQM turned fiery on Wednesday when the two sides indulged in highly personalised attacks at each other's leadership, vowing to make their "private and family matters" public.
After the National Assembly session was adjourned on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Nisar Ali Khan addressed a press conference outside the parliament building, reprimanding MQM chief Altaf Hussain for "objectionable" remarks against PML-N chief Nawaz

LAHORE - The PPP leadership is optimistic about settling issues with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the coalition partner's return to the federal cabinet.
"We are hopeful of removing MQM's concerns," Federal Law Minister Babar Awan said on Tuesday. Awan said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain's grievances were genuine and he fully agreed with the MQM leadership. MQM had expressed its concern over the socio-economic problems of the people and the government had similar views, he

KARACHI - The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has not yet decided about sitting on the opposition benches; however, the party is not happy over leaving the federal government, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said on Tuesday while speaking to MQM activists at the party headquarters, Nine Zero, and Hyderabad Zone Office.
He supported the Coordination Committee's decision of quitting the federal cabinet, saying that future decisions would depend upon the government's attitude. "The Pakistan

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI - Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentary leader and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Farooq Sattar and Federal Ports and Shipping Minister Babar Khan Ghauri submitted their resignations to the Presidency on Tuesday, Pakistan Today has learnt, as the government stepped up efforts to convince its estranged ally to reconsider its decision of withdrawing from the federal cabinet.
"Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghauri have sent their resignations in line with the

ISLAMABAD - In a dramatic development, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday moved one step closer to leaving the coalition government as both its federal ministers decided to resign.
Per details, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar and Ports and Shipping Minister Babar Ghauri have decided to quit the federal cabinet to protest the government's failure to fulfil its commitments. The decision was taken at a MQM Rabita Committee meeting held simultaneously in

KARACHI - There will be no objection if the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) quits the government, Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza said on Sunday while talking to the media at Wasan House in Khairpur.
"The MQM had become part of the government of its own free will. If the party now decides to leave the alliance, it will be their own decision and we have no objection over it."
He said he never held any one party responsible for terrorism. "I don't know why whenever I

KARACHI - Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday slammed the summoning of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief by the US, threatening to topple the incumbent government if the ISI chief was sent to the US.
Addressing a public gathering at Bhit Shah over telephone from London, the MQM chief said, "If the US summons someone from Pakistan, the Supreme Court of Pakistan must do the same." Talking to people from various districts of Sindh, he said the people

KARACHI - Yet another development venture - the much-awaited Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Transit CNG Bus Project - is in limbo because of political bickering between the ruling Pakistan People's Party and its coalition partner the MQM.
The PPP-led Sindh government and the MQM are at odds over who should take credit for the project, delaying the much-awaited scheme for the past 20 months, well-placed sources in the Sindh Transport Department told Pakistan Today.
Under the plan, at

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Tuesday gave final touches to a reconciliation strategy with the Pakistan People's Party's major coalition partner - the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) - as well as a contingency plan in case the MQM decided to part ways with the government in the near future.
An informed source told Pakistan Today that during the crucial meeting held at the Presidency, the two leaders agreed that in case of any

ISLAMABAD: Besides political means, the Pakistan People's Party government also used other channels to persuade Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain to stay a part of the coalition government. A source privy to this development told Pakistan Today that the government had also involved Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General (DG) Waseem Ahmed - considered to be close to the MQM as he has worked as the city police officer in Karachi - to help explain the joint

ISLAMABAD: Assuring the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) that its grievances would be addressed, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday barred Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza from issuing statements in the future on contentious issues pertaining to coalition partners.
After meeting an MQM delegation, Gilani telephoned Mirza to ask him about the statement in which he had accused the MQM of being involved in assassinations in Karachi.
The Sindh home minister told the

KARACHI - While Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza roared at a press conference on Saturday that he stood by his statement of target killers' association with political parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Senior Education and Literacy Minister Pir Mazharul Haq accused the media of creating a rift between coalition partners.
Addressing a press conference at the PPP Media Cell, Haq claimed that there was no serious difference between the PPP and the MQM. In

ISLAMABAD: The political situation on Thursday took another turn as the MQM leadership opened preliminary negotiations with various parties in view of the changing scenario to evaluate its options before taking a final decision on whether to continue its alliance with the PPP.
The initiative was taken by MQM chief Altaf Hussain who telephoned PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the likeminded group's leader, Khurshid Kasuri and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman.
MQM senator

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Rabita Committee on Wednesday termed the JUI-F's move to part ways with the government as the latter's democratic right, but it also gave a 10-day notice to the PPP to explain its position on Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza's recent "provocative" speech.
"The PPP should explain its position within 10 days whether Dr Zulfiqar Mirza's provocative speech was based on his personal views or the party's policy, otherwise, the MQM will

KARACHI: MQM Rabita Committee has convened an emergency joint meeting of its members in Karachi and London for today (Wednesday) to discuss the changing political situation in the country after the JUI-F parted ways with the government on Tuesday.
"The evolving situation after the departure of the JUI-F, the attitude of the PPP government, the MQM's reservations and other important issues will be discussed in the meeting. A statement would be issued after the meeting about the

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday decided to lobby with political parties, including the PML-Q, MQM and PPP-Sherpao, to foil the passage of the reformed general sales tax bill by the National Assembly.
The central organising committee of the PML-N which met with Nawaz Sharif in the chair also decided to complete intra-party elections from local to central level before January 15, 2011.
Addressing the central organising committee members, Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: The PML-Q, MQM, JUI-F and other minor political parties, who have vowed to oppose the Reformed General Sales Tax Bill 2010 in totality, are likely to boycott the voting on the recommendations finalised by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Friday, as experts say the parties have no other option left with them.
"These political parties, including my party, the PML- Q, who have decided to oppose the anti-poor bill, will find themselves in a fix when the report