MQM-P weighs option to stay in govt

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) held a midnight meeting at the Governor House to evaluate whether to stay in the government or not and implementation of its demand to amend the Sindh Local Govedrnemnt Act (SLGA), sources said on Tuesday.

MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Sindh Governor Kamran Tesori presided over the meeting in which there was a detailed discussion regarding the amendment of SLGA as demanded by the MQM-P.

Sources say that in the meeting, the agreement with the PPP was discussed in which some amendments have been made by the Peoples Party and they were also discussed. Sources say that the MQM-P wants immediate changes to the four amendments to SLGA.

In this regard, it was unanimously decided in the meeting that Sindh Governor Kamran Tesori will present MQM-P's demands to the federal government and seek cooperation regarding the changes in SLGA.

If there is no support from the federal government and the Local Government Act is not amended by the PPP leadership, MQM-P will decided whether to stay in the government or not.

Sources said that MQM-P lawmakers who were guiding the party leadership regarding the Local Government Act were invited to attend the meeting.

They further said that Governor Tessori will meet Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the next 48 hours and inform them about the concerns of MQM-P. If MQM-P does not get a positive response, an important meeting of the Rabita Committee will be held in which the future course of action will be announced.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2022.