MQM decides to sit in opposition in national, provincial assemblies

MQM's Faisal Sabzwari will be their parliamentary leader in Sindh assembly.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday announced that it will occupy the opposition benches both in the National and provincial assembly, Express News reported.

The party also intends to contest for the seat of the Sindh chief minister, proposing Syed Sardar Ahmed as their candidate to compete against former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah in Thursday's elections. Faisal Sabzwari will be their parliamentary leader.

MQM's Farooq Sattar will be the party's parliamentary leader in the National Assembly.

The move was confirmed by MQM's MNA-elect Syed Ali Raza Abidi on Twitter.

Final: MQM decides to sit in Opposition at center and province #Pakistan

— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) May 29, 2013

MQM had secured 18 seats in the National Assembly during the May 11 elections. It had secured 37 seats in the Sindh provincial assembly.

Earlier, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who are forming a government in Sindh, had finalised a power-sharing formula whereby they intended to bring the MQM into the government, offering them up to five ministries in addition to advisory roles in the government.