MQM offers conditional support to govt

PML-N disagrees with demand to incorporate LGs into constitutional package

ISLAMABAD:

MQM Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced on Sunday that his party would extend conditional support to the proposed 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill following a meeting with a PML-N delegation led by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal.

Addressing a joint press conference with Iqbal, Dr Siddiqui said the MQM and the PML-N have reaffirmed their commitment to addressing Pakistan's current and future constitutional and social issues together.

"Today, a PML-N delegation briefed the MQM leadership on the proposed constitutional amendment, and the consultation process will continue. The MQM has conditionally announced its support for the proposed amendment," he said.

Dr Siddiqui said the MQM presented its longstanding demands—focused purely on basic public needs and welfare—to the PML-N delegation, which assured prompt action on these matters.

In his remarks, Ahsan Iqbal said the purpose of Sunday's meeting was to take the government's key ally, the MQM, into confidence. He praised the MQM's role in addressing the country's challenges, describing it as commendable.

He said the PML-N highly values the MQM's suggestions and guidance, especially on public and political matters, which have contributed significantly to democratic stability in the country. He said the PML-N considers its alliance with the MQM crucial for the continuation of democracy.

Iqbal stated that the MQM's suggestions regarding local government powers are close to the PML-N's heart. "Both parties agree that without an effective and functional local government system, the dream of public participation in democracy cannot be realized."

He added that the MQM's local government draft will be reviewed after the passage of the proposed constitutional amendment. Following that, a committee will be formed to address the MQM's local government draft and the quota system.

The minister said no democratic person can disagree with the constitutional amendment package that the PML-N-led coalition government is keenly advancing.

"Some parties wished to review the amendment package, and we have given them time to do so. We built a consensus, which is the democratic process," Iqbal added.

He acknowledged that the MQM leadership has continuously assisted the government with suggestions on various issues, including independent power producers (IPPs). He also highlighted the crucial role that coalition partners, including the MQM, played in forming the PML-N government after the February 8 general elections.

Reflecting on the past, he recalled how Pakistan's democratic process was derailed by Article 58-2B. "A political consensus was later reached to revoke 58-2B. However, the courts began exercising their authority to remove elected prime ministers."

According to some sources, the PML-N has once again ignored the MQM's demands, as the proposed constitutional amendment package does not include the MQM's local government draft. WITH INPUT FROM APP