Amid COVID-19 outbreak, MQM-P decides to return to federal cabinet

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui says his party wants t be part of federal efforts against viral outbreak

KARACHI: The MQM-P on Sunday announced it was rejoining the federal cabinet, bringing to an end a deadlock that lasted for over two months after the estranged coalition partner’s convener, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, announced his resignation as the information technology minister lamenting the PTI-led government’s “lack of seriousness” in resolving the issues plaguing urban Sindh.

Speaking to reporters at the MQM-P headquarters in Karachi’s Bahadurabad neighbourhood after meeting a delegation of PTI leaders, Siddiqui said there had been significant progress in the past several days on the unresolved issues between the two parties.

“In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, we want to be part of the federal efforts to overcome the crisis,” he added.

“We also spoke with [Planning and Development Minister] Asad Umar last evening and this decision is not only in the interest of urban Sindh, but that of the entire country.”

The PTI delegation that came to the MQM-P headquarters included Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi and MPAs Haleem Adil Sheikh and Khurram Sher Zaman.

Besides Siddiqui, the other MQM-P leaders present in the meeting included Senior Deputy Convener Aamir Khan, Deputy Convener Kanwar Naveed Jameel, Faisal Subzwari, Aminul Haque and Zahid Mansoori.

Speaking alongside Siddiqui, the Sindh governor said Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted every political party to participate in the government’s efforts against the disease.

“The MQM-P has been our ally from day one. When the prime minister went through the demands of both the PTI and the MQM-P, he pointed out that they were similar,” he explained.

“Therefore, Asad Umar has moved the apex court for empowering mayors not only in Karachi but across the country under Article 140 [of the Constitution],” he added.

Ismail further said Rs1 billion had been issued to the Karachi mayor and a similar amount was in the pipeline for Hyderabad mayor. “Overall, Rs7 billion have been allocated for this purpose.”

At the time of resignation, Siddiqui had announced that his party would not pull out of the ruling coalition, but return to the federal cabinet only after its grievances were addressed.

According to sources, the MQM-P’s demands include the recovery of missing persons affiliated with the party, granting it permission to reopen its offices and kicking off development projects in Karachi and other urban centres of Sindh.

The two sides held several rounds of talks during which Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and senior PTI leader Jahangir Tareen visited the MQM-P headquarters.

The prime minister had formed three committees to placate the ruling party’s disgruntled allies.