'MQM is not quitting govt for the sake of democracy'

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Monday said that the party had quit the federal cabinet, but was not quitting the government for the sake of democracy.

Addressing MQM workers via telephone from London, the MQM chief said that the party had supported the government in difficult times and that President Asif Ali Zardari had made several promises, but failed to fulfill them.

Hussain also said that the federal cabinet was making decisions without consulting MQM ministers. He said that if the government was not willing to follow their advice, it should at least pay attention to their recommendations.

Responding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif’s allegations, the MQM chief said that Sharif should have a face-to-face debate with him on television.

Damage control

President Zardari formed a two member committee, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, to address the reservations of the MQM. Rehman Malik arrived in Karachi late Monday night.

Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani also called Sindh Governor Dr Ishrtaul Ibad and discussed the MQMs decision to quit the federal cabinet.

Updated from print edition (below)

Coalition in trouble: MQM ups the ante

The rumblings of political apocalypse for the government have started afresh, as a long-troubled but politically-pivotal relationship suffered a serious setback on Monday evening.

In a somewhat anticipated but major move, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – the PPP-led coalition’s most important partner – announced that it will pull out from the federal government.

However, the break is not clean and complete – yet.

Though the MQM insists that they will not join the opposition and will continue to sit on the treasury benches, the move will pose a major challenge for the Pakistan Peoples Party, which is at serious risk of seeing a simple numerical majority vanish in the 342-seat house.

While no particular reason has been given by the MQM for the move, the decision, taken after a marathon four-hour meeting of the Rabita Committee in London and Karachi, comes in light of a fresh verbal assault on the party by Sindh Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza on Sunday.

A few weeks ago, the home minister had lashed out at the party, and there were fears that the MQM would pull out after a similar marathon session was held. Things seemed to have been calmed down after an MQM delegation met with the prime minister and president and were assured that they  would take action on the matter. However, it wasn’t to be.

According to a statement issued by the party’s Nine Zero headquarters, a joint meeting of the MQM Rabita Committee was held in Karachi and London simultaneously on Monday that discussed MQM’s relationship with the government.

“Despite continual and repeated complaints from its ministers the Co-ordination Committee advised restraint and patience. After thorough deliberations the Rabita Committee has reached the conclusion that there is no point in retaining the ministries, in which proposals and recommendations for the welfare of the people are not only being ignored but also no proper response, was given,” it said.

Hinting at giving the government an opportunity for reconciliation, the statement said the meeting of the committee took complete stock of the complaints of the people as well and after careful discussion arrived at the conclusion that a chance should be given to the government to make amends and for the continuation of the democratic system in the country.

“We have decided to resign from cabinet. Dr Farooq Sattar and Babar Khan Ghauri, both our ministers, will submit their resignations to the prime minister as soon as they return from London,” Haider Abbas Rizvi, the deputy parliamentary leader of the MQM in the National Assembly, confirmed to The Express Tribune.

He confirmed that the party will still sit on treasury benches and continue to work in the coalition government in Sindh. However, he stressed that the decision was not based on any one issue.

“We are giving them (PPP) time before making any final decision of sitting on opposition benches,” he said, adding that his party has already expressed its reservations over a number of issues and had given the government ultimatum to improve the situation.

Rabita Committee member Wasay Jalil hinted that the party had already planned its next moves. “There is a step by step process by which we’ll decide whether to sit in the opposition benches, part ways in Sindh and what to do in the provincial assembly,” Jalil said.

Jalil said the committee would be meeting again tomorrow at 5pm.

The government, on its part, seems to be hoping that the MQM reverses its decision. The President’s trouble-shooter Rehman Malik has once again been assigned the task to ensure that the matter is resolved.

Also, president Zardari’s spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that no prior information about MQM’s decision was given to the PPP. “We ourselves heard about it through media reports,” he said, adding that reports that an MQM delegation met Rehman Malik earlier today were false. “He did not meet anyone and left Naudero for Islamabad at around 5pm.”

Babar said that the entire MQM development was a ‘storm in a teacup’ and expressed the hope that the MQM would reconsider its decision. “The president has already outlined his policy of reconciliation and I’m very hopeful that all issues with our coalition partner will be sorted out soon.”

Babar said the president would be arriving in Karachi early morning on Tuesday “as scheduled.” This is not the first time that the MQM has done this, he says. “Ups and downs with coalition partners are part and parcel of politics and I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”

The two larger parties in the centre, the Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N and the PML-Q, with over 90 and 50 seats each respectively in the National Assembly, reacted cautiously on the MQM’s decision.

PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal when contacted said that MQM is still part of the government as it had not announced to sit on opposition benches. He said unless a clearer picture is visible, it will be premature to comment on the future strategy of his party.

When asked would his party go for midterm polls in case the PPP loses majority or would it support the government, he said “let the things get clear. Midterm polls are also part of the democratic process. Our first priority has been that the PPP should improve its governance”.

On the other hand, with the MQM’s possible exit, the PML-Q gains immense importance as it would give the PPP the needed numbers to stay afloat. Kamil Ali Agha, information secretary of PML-Q, also did not give any clear answer, saying that his party wants a continuation of the system but would not become part of the government. When asked to respond in categorical terms if his party would extend support to the PPP in case it loses simple majority in the centre, he said “PML-N has already signed a deal with the PPP. They will not require anyone else’s support. Nawaz Sharif has given them an undertaking”.

Currently, the PPP enjoys the support of ANP, which has 13 seats, PML-F, which has five seats, and the independent candidates that have 17 seats.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2010.