Altaf Hussain said that Nawaz Sharif will have his support for the prime minister slot. PHOTO: APP
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain announced his support for the prime minister-elect Nawaz Sharif and his party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday, Express News reported.
He said, the decision is being taken to uphold the interest of the country.
This declaration of support from the second largest party in Sindh bodes well for PML-N who emerged as the clear winner in the general elections.
Having won the highest number of seats in the National Assembly, PML-N is expected to form the next government with Nawaz as the prime minister, who has already been offered support by various independent candidates and political parties. Premiers of China and India also extended their vote of confidence to Nawaz after the general elections.
COMMENTS (58)
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@ Ahmed, Qouta system removed? Do you really think this is one of the issue of Karachi? I dare to you to drive out in your best car with best outfit carrying your expensive cell phone after 8 pm to buy your self a bread loaf for straight one week. After wards, let us know, if quota system is the issue of Karachi.
Police reformation is a National issue, should not be limited to Karachi. Imran Khan is pretty vocal about it for very long time.
I think it is time for MQM follower to start questioning Altaf's statement and actions as a concern citizen rather than a follower. 20+ years are more than enough to evaluate the party and it's agenda.
@an Urdu speaking Pakistani:
Pls supporter of PTI can u get qouta system removed and local policing for karachi by ur khan
@Ali Tanoli: @Ayesha Bibi, For godsake for once please acknowledge the truth and explaine the wrong doing of MQM and Altaf bhai….
I am sure you are not old enough to know and understand the events in Sindh and specially Karachi from 1964 or come closer from 1988.
I invite you to do a serious little research for yourself to ascertain the wrong doings meted out from every corner and by every government. I challenge (& I mean it) you can not and will not face the reality.
rather you will appreciate how MQM has managed to survivie and move ahead.
Simply, status quo forces wont leave thier present position without trying to teach lesson to revolutionaries. Its history, its you who can lern from it.
Generation this day, can fight over something that really doesn't exist. The point is simple. MQM has simply lend their support for PM slot to NS and is still sitting in opposition. What do you anti-MQM people expect? MQM should field its own MNA for PM slot? They have no other choice but to support NS. Then why fighting? Find better reasons to criticise MQM.
@Aysha: on one point you people are against the feudal or industrial system and on the other hand you guys have supported PPP or Mushraf from past one decade who were full of feudalism and industrialists and can you count how many are in your party. ask your leader to comeback to Pakistan and protest against rather than making statements from UK
It's not surprising at all... it was expected. i wonder what made ppl think that electing PML(n) would bring any change. Frustrating thing is that we, the people of pakistan, waited so desperately for these elections with a hope that some positive thing would happen but unfortunately the history is being repeated.
Yup, the usual move by MQM to get power like always.
@Such Bolta Hoon: I dont think in the Punjab, there was quota system or government official forms where place of birth of your grandfather was enquired, hence the inception of MQM.
Pls understand that the sense of alienation led to the foundation of MQM on the lawns of Karachi University.
Prseident appoints he governors, not the PM
@Awais: I was shocked by what Haider Abbas Rizvi said to the traffic guy, but it was a singular incident and have ample reason to attribute it to human fallibility
MQM could have been a much better and productive party with out Altaf Hussain. At one point, Altaf sarcastically congratulate Nawaz as Punjab leader, now he is giving his "unconditional support" to PMLN even when no one actually asked! He is confused and making MQM even confuser.
Ayesha bibi for once try to undertsand that MQM has become- Mutahida Qaumi Mazak..MQM claims to be a National party with supporters only from Karachi and Hyderabad.How odd is that they always talk about the Haq of Urdu speaking people and not other ethnic groups.How strange is that? A lot of people from Punjab had their roots in India and migrated as well but never claim to be Muhajirs but only Punjabi from Pakistan. The compelte basis of the origin of MQM just seems sensless.
MQM is supporting PMLN as they have no choice but an only chance to get Governorship for Sindh.
@Aftab Kenneth Wilson: they did it last five years look whathappened PPP is partying with criminals who play foot ball with severed head s , and no one dares to say it on media
@Awais: although i am MQM supporter i do agree when rizvi bhai spoke in a manner not be fitting but u do realize that among all the legislators only his car was picked actually being subject to this kind of prejudice continuously for being a karachiite , he lost better sense momentarily ofcourse . I will give you one example recently abbas town bombing it was only MQM who realy helped people in distress , lets see PTI was given votes without any effort we all know how the establishment were at it back. I will vote PTI next time , my request is either bolish qouta system or if it is so very beneficial for underdeveloped masses living interiror areas , it should apply to other big cities like lahore ,peshawar and quetta so that insaaf prevails and underdeveloped areas on other subas may also get the same bebefit. Thoe other local policing , karachi should have a entirely new police force with recruitment done with all permanent residents .at all levels , law and order will see a turn around in shorrtest possible time. I am amazed that all these democratic parties instead of capitalizing on mustafa phenomenon , actually deprived my home town my birth place of local body election , all true karachiites Inshallah will vote for MQM in locak body elections and will get a gift even better mustafa kamal
Why weren’t everybody here expecting it to happen sooner or later? Last time they decided to sit in opposition I gave them month! But it took them only a week… MQM is nothing but Empty slogans!!
@Aysha: thanks spot on . only not only karachi , the whole country needs to elect middle class professional and not keep sending sarmaya dars and jageedars we will not see any real change , i am amzed why people are not able to appreciate that 100% candidates are midde class professional where as if any part fields less than 1% candidates belonging to same class are given so much publicity. Only if prejudices are shed and Pakistanis are lead by progressive and liberal leaders.
@Aysha:
When you are fighting for an idealogy, you stick to it no matter if the whole house of 342 is filled with feudals.
The moment you compromise, the ideology goes down the drain.
But I feel for you, I don't think MQM has any ideology at all. They do exactly the same things what feudals have been doing. I am sorry but since I saw Haider Abbas Rizvi's saying "Tumhari naukri khaa jaon ga main" to a poor policeman who towed away his car illegally parked in front of Parliament building, MQM is nothing but the same feudalistic mindset.
Go beat the drums!
hopefully my TRUE comments are not being barred by the moderators
Is this the same MQM who used to call certain PML-N leaders names like Mr Bean???
@Aysha:
hate to break it to you, but MQM is part of the establishment. or did you not know that? it is after all the party that zia gave birth to. or did you not even know that? precisely what part of my 'argument' did you find hackneyed? i was merely lamenting the fact that where the MQM is concerned, nobody is given a chance to MAKE an argument against it. it's the party that said separate karachi if you dont like our (dubiously achieved) mandate. its the party that threatened civil war if its (dubiously achieved) mandate was not respected. its the party that threatened to kill people at teen talwaar if its (dubiously achieved) mandate was not respected. its the party whose 'bhai' burned Pakistan's flag in front of Jinnah's mausoleum in 1977. That bears repeating. its the party whose head burned Pakistan's flag in front of Jinnah's mausoleum in 1977. do you get it yet?
p.s are you farooq sattar in disguise?
if you bother to read the CPJ report (Roots of Impunity) journalists say that we are more afraid of the MQM in karachi than we are of the Taliban in FATA. What does that tell you?
For all those criticizing MQM decision, what do you say about PPP deciding to support PML-N for the PM slot? Don't you remember the print & electronic advertisement campaign of PPP during the election?
@ Aysha We are sure that you will not fall prey to the PTI trolls, the real losers in Pakistan. The negative politics of Imran Khan has been rejected by a vast majority of Pakistanis.
No body can challenge the decision of MQM in the entire world.
Basically, MQM is nothing more than a "see/saw" political party.
Good luck to MQM and good luck to those elected representative of MQM who would be given share in the government by the "LION".
But again, I can see that MQM will be sitting on opposition benches in the first three months of newly formed government.
See/Saw, See/Saw..............................
MQM is a mature party, unlike PTI, and will not fall prey to the propaganda of trolls. The mental age of PTI trolls is not more than 5 years!
This is a mature decision of Altaf Hussain to support RoshanPakistan... Real test of MQM will be to support the Government but never demand ministries or Governorship. Long Live Pakistan!
@Ali S: May be MQM can teach you a lesson about moving on in the best interest of the nation and not dwell in the past
@aaaaa: such a hackneyed argument, electronic and print media is constantly criticizing and badgering MQM
People creating such perceptions about MQM has done a massive disservice to the country.
Certain forces found this to be the surest sure way to maintain status quo,
If MQM was not maligned at a large scale then there would be middle and lower middle class people in the other provinces following suit and would have made their way into assemblies and leaving waderas and industrialists losing grip on the masses.
But unfortunately media played into the hands of the forces of status quo and supported smear campaign against MQM
Ayesa is emerging talent of MQM.I HOPE PARTY LOOK TO HIS LOYAL WORKER.
Ayesha is dr firdos ashiq awan of MQM.
They'll do anything to rub salt in PTI's wounds. And by the way, it was Nawaz Sharif's government that oversaw the infamous 90s operations against them. Maybe now MQM knows where they stand.
@Aysha:
I assure you any remarks showing MQM in a negative light are not even allowed on here. ET is just enabling this criminal silence with regards to the MQM and their thuggery, and thats a euphemism. My remarks (with solid proof no less) have never been published where they concern the MQM but seem to be fine on on other subjects.
We love you national interest bhai.
Express Tribune Moderator, I strongly condemn the remarks of akhtar tak above and demand the immediate removal. This type of language must not be allowed for any body not only MQM.
@an Urdu speaking Pakistani:
The decision of MQM is to sit in the opposition while it is a goodwill gesture shown by the leader towards the majority party.
@akhtar tak: such myopic analysis of situation, moderators pls ensure that ET standards are maintained
Good decision. Country comes first Consider supporting PTI for leader of opposition
They might be seeking few ministries.
@Fudge
"Now waiting for their spokesperson @ayesha to present some ludicrous argument glorifying this announcement even!"
Absolutely right, some of us do have to wait for others to guide them and help them deviate into sense.If the house of 342 members comprises of waderas and industrialist, who do you work with.
If only Karachi has the sense to send middle and lower middle class people to legislative assemblies and all other parts of the country vote for the likes of sugar industry mafia Choudry Nisar or the gadee nasheens like Shah Mehmood qureshis, and no middle class doctors, engineers, teachers, what can one do
Simply incredible to blame MQM for offering to cooperate with those present in the assembly.
If there was a choice and MQM instead of being with those representing the middle and lower middle class and MQM chose waders and industrialist, then there could a case against MQM.
MQM is a political party. They cannot survive without sitting with the other 85% of the politicians who have a majority of Jageerdars and risk becoming isolated and extinct with time. This is exactly what IK had done for the past 16 years- boycotting, criticism etc. In this election however, PTI, has done what MQM has been doing for the past 27 Years by bringing middle class educated people to assembly (at least more than other status quo parties) The supposed 'change' is going to come slowly, after another few decades of trial and error with these political parties. I guess the NA is 15-20% made up of non feudals, business tycoons, pirs and tribal leaders. Hopefully when this number crosses 51%, we will see a difference in this country.
MQM needs to give cover to their hooliganism in Karachi. For that it has to stay in power, thats why it has remained in the Government for the last two decades.
@Ali Tipu: exactly his "nazariah" is to fight against feudalism, waderahs et cetera" for the common man but he always supports these waderahs when the time comes. Classic! Now MQM supporters will try and glorify this even!
For 2 decades MQM has maintained they want to fight against feudalism, family politics, for common man et cetera but they always end up supporting exactly the kind of people they oppose in their speeches. And now they will accept someone who did an army operation against them? What about those poor MQM workers?
What exactly is MQM's nazariah? to stay in government at any cost? Now waiting for their spokesperson @ayesha to present some ludicrous argument glorifying this announcement even!
@Ali Tipu: What option does MQM have? If the jageedars and industrialists and not the middle and the lower are voted into the assemblies by the masses then there there is no choice but to work with them
To all the half-wits where do the report suggest MQM has joined the government? They has just lend their support for election of PM to NS for the goodwill. Matured decision. PTI should stop being adamant and elect NS unanimously as they know there is know way that PTI can elect it's own premier.
And also because MQM has been pretty much marginalized in the recent elections. As PML(N) will have a comfortable majority with support from other minor parties and independents, there is no need to get support of MQM and its blackmailing tactics. In other words, MQM has no choice but to appear to show its support to Nawaz Sharif.
I said it before, MQM and its goons have turned the party into the Muttahida Quami Mazak party. Leaving government one day and rejoining it the next. What gives ? Do you seriously think politics is a joke ?
To support every Govt means there is no "Nazariya" left with MQM, but only to make happy the ruler... now MQM good for nothing.... seriously...
Regards, An MQM long time Supporter Migrated from India Supported MQM for our rights... Now I am only Pakistani Now Supporting PTI for good livelihood...
Well do they have any other option??
Of course the country comes first. Anything for the country.