Technical delays: ‘Not enough MQM MPAs signed papers for Opposition benches’

MQM ministers return protocol and official vehicles.

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s application to sit on the Opposition benches has been temporarily suspended on the grounds that only 25 MPAs have signed out of 51.

This was disclosed by Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shahla Raza on Friday at provincial autonomy day celebrations at Chief Minister House.

They resigned in protest over the postponement of the elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, sparking a political storm.

Under rule No. 5, every member of the assembly has to submit a separate application to sit on an opposition bench. Also problematic is the fact that while the MQM ministers sent their resignations, the presence of a minister was needed while they signed. “A few MQM ministers are out of the country therefore their resignations cannot be accepted at this moment,” she said.

Acting governor Nisar Khuhro added that there was no constitutional binding that they had to accept or reject resignations within a certain period of time.

The MQM ministers handed back their government vehicles and protocol on Friday. “People who are little confused about the Muttahida’s stand should adopt a wait-and-see policy till our next announcement,” said the MQM’s Raza Haroon while talking to The Express Tribune.

Referring to earlier decisions to quit, he said that they had tendered their resignations over rises in petrol prices and against extortion, but the MQM had continued to support the government by sitting on the treasury benches. But they had now decided to become the opposition. Their next task is to nominate a leader of the opposition.

Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad had also resigned. But there has been some controversy over the process. The president’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, said that they had not received the governor’s signature. A spokesman for Governor House said that latter had gone on a week’s leave to the UAE. “The resignation has been sent to Islamabad, but until it is accepted we cannot call Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan the former governor,” he said.

No Pakistan Peoples Party leader is willing to talk. They have reportedly been asked to keep silent until President Asif Ali Zardari returns from the UK. “There has not been any breakthrough and I cannot speak on it,” said Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.

Acting governor Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said negotiations had started through back-door channels.

“The task has been given to Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim and Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q because the MQM is not willing to sit with Rehman Malik,” sources said.

Differences between the PPP and MQM are not new. During the last election campaign, differences surfaced over reviving the old status of Karachi, Hyderabad and other districts. Sources said that a meeting between Zulfiqar Mirza and Chaudhary Pervez Ellahi was held on June 24 in Islamabad to bring PML-Q members back to the Sindh cabinet. The next meeting is likely to be held on July 9.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2011.