KARACHI:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have inched closer to announcing a formation of a coalition government in Sindh as five ministries are likely to be handed over to the MQM, party sources said on Saturday.
The leaders of the two parties are also expected to meet at Governor House in a day or two, where the portfolios would be finalised. The names of the potential ministers have been sent to MQM chief Altaf Hussain for approval.
According to sources, the ministries of health, information technology, Auqaf, industries and commerce are likely to be offered to the MQM. All these departments were led by MQM ministers in the last coalition government.
Meanwhile, out of the important ministries — local bodies, finance, planning and development, and home department — one will be given to the MQM. If all goes well and the new coalition is formed in the province, two advisers will also be appointed from the MQM.
However, after the 18th Amendment, the Sindh cabinet can only have 15 ministers and five advisers on the board. Currently, there are 16 ministers and two advisers serving as part of the provincial government. In case a coalition government is formed and five ministries are awarded to the MQM, the PPP will have to remove six of its own ministers from their posts.
Parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro said the provincial cabinet strength stands at 11 per cent of total number of the provincial assembly members after the 18th Amendment. This means the government can only appoint 15 to 16 ministers and five advisers. When his attention was diverted towards 16 ministers working in Sindh and five other portfolios reportedly promised to the MQM, he said, “I have no idea whether or not the provincial government would take back a few ministries from its own members, but we are working to merge the departments so that the cabinet size is limited.”
In the last tenure, the MQM parted ways with the PPP-led government just days before the general elections of May 2013 and chose to act as an opposition party in the new term. MQM party leaders had admitted that they were unable to do any development because of their ‘limitations’.
Party workers were not in favour of the party joining the government. However, with the operation in Karachi and the situation in London becoming unpleasant, MQM is ready to strike a deal with the PPP. The relations between the two parties became cordial last week when their delegations met in Dubai, and the MQM had termed the talks positive. “Good news is expected in the coming days,” said one of the MQM leaders.
On Friday, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, who is in Karachi, told his party leaders not to issue any statements against the MQM. Later, MQM chief Altaf Hussain also told his leaders to maintain the friendly atmosphere..
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (40)
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Great! Now the feudal system is going to be buried forever by MQM! May ALLAH give some sense to our people.
@John: You don't even have the courage to put your real name down and if you are a christian then your opinion does not count in Pakistan any way. however I am glad to know you are a Punjabi.
Good news. This country is not for Punjabis ( Shebaz sharif ) , old Sindhis ( Zardari) , etc. Have you not seen Mustafa kamal work ? MQM minister never corrupt .You may not satisfy with their performance , up to you . Where we go ? You know how most of Old Sindhi minister works .Even they not do any thing for villagers. MQM minister try to solve problem.
Anddd MQM never disappoints me !!! applause
It's of no use if MQM doesn't get local bodies portfolio because it's been six years that corruption party wadera government has turned Karachi into ruins by its corruption and bias and jealousy against this city. Karachi being stifled mercilessly by corruption party waderas desperately needs breathing space
MQM and PPP are both proving to be a pack of jokers. Both partiies should be ashamed of themselves and their conduct
@shahid: You will forever be a Muhajir because that’s what you want to be. My forefathers were Muhajirsbut am not because i identify myself more with my country then with my race. Ever heard someone calling Musarraf a Muhajir?You get what you ask for.
Since every one in Pakistan is so imbibed with ethnic prejudice[ and that is why I will not used the word Pakistani nation Which obviously does not exists}. I will request every body include their ethnic origin as well along with the name so that every one can understand where they are coming from. I for one am a Muhajir.
Dear Bloggers/ Readers This is not a surprise. It is a match made in heaven. By the way where is Aysha M and her predictions. Allah humari kaum ko hidayat day
Has anybody seen Ayesha_M and Mr. Hasan? :p
@Parvez: There will be no heavy price. Robots don't show emotions.
Power ke liya hum kuch bhi kare gha ....
Mafias rejoined to enjoy their wicked politics.
Making the same mistake.......and expecting a different result.....smacks of self interest and this time around the price will be heavy.
The Sword of Damocles is always hanging over the head of MQM. The PPP's carrot and stick policy always works. In the meantime, Sindh continues to regress and soon will become a province of 'goths.' Salams
Old habits die hard
whats soo good about it, PPP wanted this to maintain peace in the city which is actually being disturbed by mqm. mqm moto is like, take us IN or start caring about karachi
so ET thinks it is a good new! How greatly subjective.
So this is the bone for MQM.
If this goes ahead then there will be more trouble for karachi. MQM will restart its notorious activities. God help karachites
so the dream has come to an end. They just can't stay away from the ruling benches.
@ET: Why are you dancing?
Poor MQM is always forced into power. They cannot resist when ministries are offered to them. This party would dismember without power in a few years. Hence they have to be in power continuously no matter who the ruler is. They would again get the health ministry and give all the blame to PPP for the deaths in Thar.
But Khurshid Shah has denied this yesterday
What is so Good about it ?? It shouldn't be headlined as Good News , its just Thugs joining Thugs.....
Ok so now MQM has got what it wanted and we can finally have some peace in Karachi.
ET to clarify for whom is this "GOOD NEWS". MQM or People of Sindh ?
At the end of the term MQM will say that they were in the government but did not have the authority.
MQM should not accept this bribery form of ministries from PPP, other wise in the end MQM will be partner for all sins being done by PPP.
The fruit never falls far from the tree.And this is what happens when an incompetent bunch of dynastic feudals meet an extortionist group of violent thugs.
How is this "Good news" ?
This is a joke. Such blatant pilitical bribing is sickening. How can MQM sit with PPP after all those accusations, condemnations and criticism? It's clear both these parties are rotten to the core and only work in self interest. People must reject them in future.
Great news. Now the in and out drama would start again. We need amusement from these jokers.
wow wow wow ...but why i am not surprised
wadaroo, jagirdaroo. iltaf bhai has joined u to change sindh future.
" ministries of health, information technology, Auqaf, industries and commerce are likely to be offered to the MQM. All these departments were led by MQM ministers in the last coalition government" MQM was responsible for health of the province and would again be? They were responsible but are holding PPP for the health and deaths in Thar. If they have ministries and not responsible at all then why give them any ministry? It would be best to have a technocrat work for health than opportunist politicians sitting in safe cities and blaming the others.
Good News for MQM & PPP, Bad news for Karachiites..
MQM and JUI(F) can never stay out of power.
This is a good step towards maintaining the rural-urban harmony which Sindh badly needs. However, it would be a colossal blunder once again if MQM compromised once again on the local government powers which Karachi and other urban areas should get as a matter of right and which presumably was the reason for which mqm forsake the coalition in 2013.
So Manzoor Wassan was right about his dreams.... MQM without being in Government is like a fish out of water! It's member Ishratul Ebad has already been the longest serving Governor of any province in Pakistan.