Telephonic contact: MQM to rejoin Sindh govt: Rehman Malik

Says PPP and MQM have also agreed to contest Senate elections together.

KARACHI: After a late night phone call from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Friday, the MQM has decided ‘in principle’ to rejoin the PPP-led government in Sindh.

“All issues between PPP and MQM have now been resolved,” former interior minister and PPP leader Rehman Malik told reporters on Saturday. “It has been decided in principle that MQM will rejoin the Sindh government,” he said.

Sharing details about Zardari’s phone call to Altaf, Malik said it was agreed that the MQM would get ‘what it deserves’ in the Sindh cabinet. “My party leadership has issued me directives and I am going to London to meet Altaf Bhai,” said the ex-minister, who is seen as a key troubleshooter in the party’s relationship with the MQM.

Malik also revealed that the PPP and the MQM have agreed to jointly contest the March 3 Senate elections.

Talking to reporters, MQM leader Babar Ghauri said his party had “opened its doors to every political party.” He added, however, that MQM would make an announcement itself if any development emerged.

About Zardari’s phone call to Altaf, Ghauri said the MQM chief briefed the PPP leader about how his party had been pushed to the wall by the Sindh government. “This is the first direct contact between the leadership of both parties. An understanding might be evolved if PPP comes out [to negotiate] in good spirit,” he said.

Faisal Subzwari, another MQM leader, said “the working relationship between PPP and MQM should continue.” He adding that MQM has been demanding 40 per cent funds and share in government jobs for urban areas.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune both PPP and MQM have formed negotiation teams. Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will lead the MQM team while Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah will lead the PPP group, they said. Negotiations will start soon, in the presence of Rehman Malik and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, they added.

Speaking on a PPP-MQM alliance, a PPP leader familiar with the development said the two parties would be elected unopposed to the Senate if the MQM rejoined the Sindh government. He added that the two parties may give one seat to opposition parties in Sindh led by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F).

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2015.