Ally’s ire: MQM’s refusal to validate governor’s rule delayed joint session

Sources say the party is annoyed at a fresh wave of violence in Karachi and interior minister’s statements.

File photo of the national assembly. PHOTO: APP/FILE

ISLAMABAD:


As its key ally MQM withdrew its support from validating governor’s rule in Balochistan, the government was compelled to postpone the February 6 scheduled joint session of the Parliament, The Express Tribune has learnt.


According to sources, the Karachi-based-party is annoyed over the fresh wave of violence in the metropolis, while statements from Interior Minister Rehman Malik further added fuel to the fire when he warned the city dwellers of a bloody February.



They added that MQM conveyed its concerns to the PPP-led government and made it clear that without addressing them, its leadership will neither hold a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari in London, nor will it support the government in the validation of the governor’s rule in the joint session.

Following these developments, PPP had no option but to postpone the session.



A statement released by the MQM secretariat on Saturday said that the Rabita committee decided that party chief Altaf Hussain will not hold any formal meetings with PPP unless the two parties reach a consensus to resolve differences over issues of public importance.


Moreover, fiercely opposing the imposition of governor’s rule in Balochistan, JUI-F and Balochistan National Party (BNP) contacted other political factions to denounce the validation of the governor’s rule in the joint session.

In this regard, Maulana Fazlur Rehman contacted MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday and sources said that the two leaders discussed political issues, including governor’s rule in Balochistan.

ANP senator Haji Muhammad Adeel confirmed that JUI-F senator Mohammad Khan Shirani contacted his party and wanted to hold a meeting, which was not possible as most of the ANP leaders are currently in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.

Confirming the development, Maulana Shirani said that his party will approach all democratic parties to gather support against governor’s rule.

Commenting on the delay of the joint session, Presidential Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that he only came to know of it from PPP leader Khursheed Shah and was unaware about the reasons behind the move.

Babar also said that he did not know of any differences between the government and the MQM.

On validating governor’s rule, he said, “we have sufficient time to validate it from the joint session, which is mandatory.” However, he said that the matter is not important as the term of the existing assemblies will soon be over.

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said that he is not in touch with political affairs for the last three days due to death of his sister. Despite repeated attempt, MQM leader Farooq Sattar could not be contacted.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2013.
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