MQM returns to the treasury: Government back in business

Gilani agrees to MQM demand; defers reformed GST bill.


Salman Siddiqui January 08, 2011

KARACHI:


Following a bold initiative by the prime minister, the besieged government scored a major reprieve on Friday with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM)  return to the treasury benches.

The return means the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government wins back its majority in the National Assembly after a precarious few days.

While the MQM will not be rejoining the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s reconciliatory trip to Nine-Zero, the party’s headquarters, following the government’s yielding on many key issues, seems to have done the job.

Accompanied by senior PPP leaders Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the prime minister also announced that legislation on the contentious reformed general sales tax (RGST) would be deferred.

Earlier, Gilani was accorded  a red-carpet welcome as rows of MQM supporters, including women, lined up to greet him. Rose petals were also showered upon him.

However, the prime minister and members of his team could do nothing more than sport uneasy smiles when slogans veered from ‘Sab Kehdo Saaf Saaf, Altaf Altaf (Everyone say clearly, Altaf Altaf!)’ to ‘Yeh Shehr Kiska? Quaid Ka!’ (Whose city is this? It is our leader’s) and ‘Yeh Sooba Kiska? Quaid Ka!’ (Whose province is this? It is our leader’s.)

There was a sense of victory visible outside Nine-Zero even before Gilani stepped inside for more than 90-minute-long talks with MQM leaders, including Senator Babar Ghauri, MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi, Raza Haroon, Mustafa Kamal and Nasreen Jalil.

Later, Gilani told the gathering that the PPP-MQM ties were already strained and were further damaged by the government’s decision to increase fuel prices.

“I called a meeting of heads of all parties in parliament, including the MQM, and informed them about economic problems and my own difficulties. But the MQM was upset, so today I’ve come here after reversing that decision,” he said.

Referring to the RGST bill, he said that the MQM chief had expressed his reservations in conversations with him and he offered to have him briefed by his economic team. “We decided that until there is a consensus, the RGST bill will not be tabled for discussion.”

The prime minister said he was inviting the MQM leader to help him bring forward a transparent accountability bill, adding that “politicians are always blamed for corruption”. He said that there was only a “thin line between accountability and victimisation”. He said he did not believe in political victimisation, adding that even the slain PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had repeatedly told him that she had chosen to land in Karachi after ending her long exile because “she had reconciled with Altaf Hussain”.

Gilani also addressed MQM’s complaint of not being taken into confidence over important issues in the provincial government. “I have directed the provincial government to take MQM on board on all policy matters in Sindh. I assure on behalf of the provincial government that all hurdles in the way of MQM ministers discharging their duties will be removed.”

The prime minister heaped praises on Hussain’s leadership and urged the MQM to stay with the PPP in the coalition government. He said both parties realised that their unity was important not only for the city but for the whole country.

“When there is a misunderstanding between the MQM and PPP, the stock exchange dives and business leaders become depressed. We need to work together,” he said.

After the speech, member of MQM’s Coordination Committee Raza Haroon said: “After thorough discussions, the Coordination Committee in London and Karachi has decided that MQM will sit on the treasury benches in view of the economic problems, important national and public issues, deteriorating law and order situation and for the promotion of democracy, but it will not rejoin the federal cabinet.”

Haroon said: “We have talked at length about national issues and we are happy that the prime minister and his team have…given firm assurances that all issues would be resolved.”

Hussain spoke with Gilani over the telephone at Nine-Zero and told him that “all patriotic political parties should not only exercise restraint but also they should promote a culture to discourage extremism and promote moderation in politics for the national security and strengthening of democracy.”

The MQM chief said the party wanted ‘the wheel of democracy’ to move forward and for the democratic government to play its role for solving people’s basic problems.

“A difference of opinion among political parties is not a new thing but political parties in other countries stand united in difficult times,” Hussain said. He expressed the hope that the government would not disappoint MQM in solving public problems.

Earlier, Prime Minister Gilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Bilawal House before leaving for Nine-Zero.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2011.

COMMENTS (66)

Syeda Bibi | 13 years ago | Reply Hey Everyone You all should thank MQM for staying in the govt and opposing the Government Najaiz moves at the same time,either it was the Nizam e Adl,NRO,RGST or the increase in Petrol Prices.They did it for the People of Pakistan.U people would not care less if u have to pay more money on Petrol Prices.Comparatively the daily wager would be extremely happy to pay less fare while travelling by bus ,Its always easy to point out fingers on MQM,but this is the only Party in Pakistan who is moderate and can bring a change when the need comes.
FARMAN TAQVI | 13 years ago | Reply Pakistan required silent and sound Peace in the land area for the generation; politicians are having the way to make view for nation discipline.
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