The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has been engaged in talks with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in an effort to woo it into the federal cabinet, sources told The Express Tribune.
Already, the two sides have successfully completed the first round of talks, sources said.
Government sources said Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Javed Aslam are engaged in talks with the MQM to finalise a list of MQM’s demands. Both sides are satisfied with the talks held so far, sources added.
The PML-N, after reviewing its current political position in Sindh, decided to regard the MQM as an ally in urban Sindh. The MQM – in view of its issues related to Karachi and other urban areas and rift with the PPP government in Sindh – was considering joining the federal government.
Sources said the PML-N approached the MQM with the offer to join the federal government and promised to fulfill its pre-conditions. The MQM told the PML-N leadership that it wanted to see resolution of all its problems in Sindh before joining the federal cabinet.
An MQM senator said his party wanted to see resolution of all its issues in Karachi and urban Sindh. “The MQM does not want to join the cabinet at the cost of issues,” he told The Express Tribune seeking anonymity.
He said the MQM wanted to see the PM’s pressure on the Sindh government to hold local government elections and to allocate more federal funds for Karachi’s mega projects.
“The MQM will get the federal ministry for Ports and Shipping and Babar Ghauri may replace Senator Kamran Michael,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 31st, 2014.
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@mirza: You live in fantacy world. The damage done to Karachi has been irreparable so far.Once good roads and green open spaces were turned into ugly dirty and dusty roads and areas.Unplanned and ugly structures were built without consulting road engineering experts and made lot of money in the process. Go to Karachi and see for yourself.This was your Kamal.
Ports and Shipping again, of course!
MQM always performed whenever they were given chance, this party has many Mustafa Kamal in it.
Its their ultimate price. They could accept bit lower offer as well. @Imran Qadri:
Give them lucrative Port shipping ministry,Health ministry and overseas Pakistani ministry and they would happily accept the offer.