ISLAMABAD:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is not considering either an electoral alliance or seat adjustment with any political group, including its current ally the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a top official of the party revealed.
However, the party would consider if the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) seeks cooperation ahead of the next general elections.
“We are a political party and believe in dialogue and never close our doors for negotiations,” said Wasay Jalil, member coordination committee and head of media cell of the MQM, while talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday.
“The PML-N has so far not sought any cooperation from us,” he added.
“So far President Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the ruling PPP, has not asked us to enter into negotiations for forming an electoral alliance or seat adjustment. We will decide this issue when the time comes,” he said.
Jalil said the MQM believes in negotiations and partnerships in politics, but it will rely on its own strength rather than seeking cooperation with any other group.
Earlier, on Saturday, the PML-N signed an agreement with a breakaway faction of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid called Likeminded for seat adjustment in the next general elections.
According to the agreement worked out through negotiations of over 10 months, PML-N had promised them 11% quota in allocation of seats in the national and provincial assemblies.
On the occasion, PML-N chief and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had hinted at forging a grand alliance against the ruling PPP for the next general elections.
Alliance with Likeminded was the second booster for a ‘grand alliance’ against the ruling PPP. Earlier, former Sindh Chief Minister Mumtaz Ali Bhutto had announced the merger of his Sindh National Front (SNF) with PML-N.
Like other parties, the MQM would also start public rallies not only in its stronghold, Karachi, but also in other parts of the country, including Punjab where the PML-N is dominant, he said.
The PML-N, after the Supreme Court convicted Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the contempt of court case, had demanded the resignation of the premier.
The opposition, dubbed “friendly” during the last four years, started its protest campaign from the National Assembly. Afterwards, the party launched its country-wide protest rallies.
Similarly, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chief Imran Khan has also launched a protest campaign against the incumbent government.
In response to opposition rallies, PPP responded on Saturday with a large rally at Kamo Shaheed Sindh where PPP leader and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah threatened a long march of their own, one which would travel to Lahore, and beyond.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2012.
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Ofcourse its too early for MQM to form an alliance. They will do so with the party that wins the majority. That has been a consistent MQM policy.