Farooq Sattar says they cannot take the baggage, taken on by the PPP during their government to the "court of the people". PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The decision was announced by the deputy convenor of Rabita Committee MNA Dr Farooq Sattar who made it clear that the decision was taken after deliberation in several party meetings and that this decision was final. He announced that the MQM will now sit on the opposition benches in the provincial and national assemblies.
Explaining the reason for their latest split, Sattar said that the MQM could not sit with the PPP which was seemingly patronising criminals part of the Peoples Aman Committee and members involved in the Lyari gang war by withdrawing cases. He added that another contributing reason of their decision was the excess baggage that the PPP had taken on during the course of their governance and that at a time when the party has to go to the “court of the people,” it could not do so with the baggage.
“We did our duty in helping the government complete it’s five year term, during which it took on many loans. We had many opportunities to quit but we did not and did our duty.”
MQM quitting is not a loss
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told Express News via telephone that while MQM quitting the coalition is not a loss for the government, but the PPP would have preferred if the MQM did take that decision, and would have instead chose to complete five years in government with them.
“[Their move] there is no loss to the government, but it would have been better if this decision would not have been taken. They stayed together for 4 years, 11 months, they would have stayed with us for the final month.”
Memon said that with the MQM sitting in the opposition changes the scenario a little, but the information minister insisted that the PPP will take decision with consensus.
Earlier, reacting the MQM’s decsision, Memon said that they will not start counter accusations over the MQM’s decision to quit the coalition government.
“We have always extended the hand of friendship and we do not have a problem of ego to take the initiative. We have no issue to take the first steps in reconciliation but would want to do in better atmosphere.”
The minister reminded that the PPP had enough numbers after the 2008 elections to form a government in Sindh but it decided to include all parties. “Our decision for reconciliation was not just to create government. At the time [after elections] Peoples Party had single majority in Sindh and could have formed a government on its own, but we included other parties because we wanted to let by-gones be by-gones and move on.”
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The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Saturday announced its decision to quit the coalition government with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The decision was announced by the deputy convenor of Rabita Committee MNA Dr Farooq Sattar who made it clear that the decision was taken after deliberation in several party meetings and that this decision was final. He announced that the MQM will now sit on the opposition benches in the provincial and national assemblies.
Explaining the reason for their latest split, Sattar said that the MQM could not sit with the PPP which was seemingly patronising criminals part of the Peoples Aman Committee and members involved in the Lyari gang war by withdrawing cases. He added that another contributing reason of their decision was the excess baggage that the PPP had taken on during the course of their governance and that at a time when the party has to go to the “court of the people,” it could not do so with the baggage.
“We did our duty in helping the government complete it’s five year term, during which it took on many loans. We had many opportunities to quit but we did not and did our duty.”
MQM quitting is not a loss
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told Express News via telephone that while MQM quitting the coalition is not a loss for the government, but the PPP would have preferred if the MQM did take that decision, and would have instead chose to complete five years in government with them.
“[Their move] there is no loss to the government, but it would have been better if this decision would not have been taken. They stayed together for 4 years, 11 months, they would have stayed with us for the final month.”
Memon said that with the MQM sitting in the opposition changes the scenario a little, but the information minister insisted that the PPP will take decision with consensus.
Earlier, reacting the MQM’s decsision, Memon said that they will not start counter accusations over the MQM’s decision to quit the coalition government.
“We have always extended the hand of friendship and we do not have a problem of ego to take the initiative. We have no issue to take the first steps in reconciliation but would want to do in better atmosphere.”
The minister reminded that the PPP had enough numbers after the 2008 elections to form a government in Sindh but it decided to include all parties. “Our decision for reconciliation was not just to create government. At the time [after elections] Peoples Party had single majority in Sindh and could have formed a government on its own, but we included other parties because we wanted to let by-gones be by-gones and move on.”
A real face of MQM is known by everyone. It’s their policy to be with Government, enjoy their portfolios, jobs, funds and then leave the Government before completion of its tenure. It’s not a surprise for the people of Pakistan. It happened as usual they used to threat the Government for acquiring their demands. Why Governor is still seated? Why Governor has not resigned yet? Don’t they remember that Governor belongs to MQM as well. It’s a dual policy and dirty game playing by PPP-MQM who want to make the people fool but nobody can dare to ask them for Governor’s resignation. They just want to make interim setup together nothing else. Shame on it!
@Ch. Allah Daad: Nice try! The next govt will definitely be a coalition! The Sher will be knocking the doors at 90!
The news is not worth commenting.
No one can deny that the MQM is a party of highly educated and disciplined people. They have a perspective for development and politics, as is the evident success of their Local Bodies government.
They have their reasons for jettisoning themselves from an ignominious government that promoted disrespect for the Supreme Court, terrorism, murder, looting, and did not have the courage to punish felons, murderers, extortionists, militants that incensed the population.
Let us pray that something solid and near permanent solution is the result of this much-feared election and the citizens have the GOOD SENSE to outrightly reject the PPP completely. In addition, politics is politics and that is why, universally it is known as a 'dirty game.'
Salams to our unfortunate country.
How many of arm chair revolutionaries actually even vote?
What a sad joke. MQM is making joke on intelligence of people. Enough is enough
wow lots of pre-election dramas
There must be a secret deal between MQM and PPP to deprieve the sindhi nationalists along with PML-N from any say in the caretaker setup by inserting MQM in the opposition benches. Good hit.
Who really cares about mqm ......
For the formation of the care-taker government, the Constitution of Pakistan should be amended in a way so that it restricts a political party from Consultation Process on the formation of future Care-taker Setup provided it had left the Coalition Government / Treasury Benches within 6 months prior to completion of the tenure of the government.
MQM's U-Turn is nothing new, they have colluded with PPP so that both parties act as Government and Opposition representatives and consult each other to bring in their own CM who could maximizes the chances of their winning in elections - PERIOD!
I am not a supporter of any party with the mala fide intentions which plays cards for their own benefit - My advice to you is "Cast your vote beyond ethnic and regional boundaries."
Even now people believe their shenanigans, if they the People Elects them again then without any doubt this is the most gullible nation on the face of earth and they rightly deserve what they are getting.
Thank you PPP for unmasking this rudderless party ! Eternal shame on the person who votes MQM !
political drama.
The justification advanced by Farooq Bhai for the move is very plausible and understandable. I wish the forthcoming elections will be exciting.
Wrong decision at wrong time. They should have waited and decision taken after elections. What if PPP wins with thumbing majority in Sindh? MQM can not live without power, just like fish in water. People are disturbed, specially the working class. We have seen enough blood on our street, no more please.......
Well we will soon have news about 'reverse drone attack', more singing, more video-conferencing and same old, same old. If so-middle class educated parties are like this then why blame the lotas and turn courts? MQM finally has made look JUI-F and PML-N look smarter and more politically correct!!
Don't cast your vote to PMLN, PPP, MQM & ANP ..............sab k sab chalay kartoos hain...................... cast your vote to PTI............... for best future...............IK best option for Pakistan............
This is strategy for the coming elections decided months ago and being acted out for publics consumption.
Yet another part of the seesaw game.
What if PPP wins again. .,..would they be back with them again?
But their Governor will not resign ... oops
With just 1 month remaining for this government to go, they leave them after sharing power with them for 5 years. Trying to fool public.
what a joke.....they are quitting just because Sindh High Court ordered Sindh Assembly Speaker to issue notification regarding appointment of opposition leader before 18 february... now opposition leader will be from MQM.....either they are smart or we are fools who vote them again and again..........
Looks like MQM just woke up four weeks before the tenure was going to finish. This just like a marriage which lasted so long and then four wks before death, husband or wife says give me divorce. MQM had good time for so long so what is the big fuss now to separate?Are you kidding the public?
Calculated move to nominate themselves as leader of opposition, in lieu of a court order. Then PPP and MQM will contest and win their respective seats individually and become partners again.... In the best interest of the Nation :)
Rightly pointed out here that we should vote for PML-N and PTI to break this hegemony to an extent that no two parties can rule us forever in Sindh.
what about ILU Khan?
So karachi is ready to be messed up again.. considering that uzair baloch is out as well..!
So why is this front page news.
misery is not that they left when elections are just around, misery is that people still vote them..
for God sake. playing politics is ok, but still there is something known as integrity or moral fiber. This thing is an utter rubbish. i still can not absorb that how one can have courage to be such shameless. so with this, MQM is trying to tell us that all what happened in Sindh, or Karachi in particular, falls on the shoulders of PPP alone?
What a huge sacrifice by these honest sons of our soil and their knight in shining armour from London! We need more patriotic people like them. Shame on all those who swear by them and accept their deceit. Its a testament to their ignorance!
@ch Allah dad... why PML N???? we have much better option this time.... PTI
It make convenient for PPP to declare MQM as opposition officially, to facilitate the care-takers of their own choice. Good Move ?? Well this is politics.
@Ayesha Bhaalay: 100% agree with you but they are not worried about votes, they are worried about power, which is get from Government party, they need relation with PMLN's Government power
Oops They did it again !
Nex coalition with NS with friendly statements coming in future!
and the people of Pakistan will be yet again fooled like always! no one is going to think about their coalition with PPP from past 5 years when they will be in polling stations!
We must give PML(N) enough majority to ensure that MQM, JUI or ANP do not blackmail future government.
Kettle calling the pot black.
The inevitable and predictable has finally happened. Now what does PPP have to 'table'?
Isn't this like the 10th time they quit PPP coalition. Now that there's one month left in their tenure, they're quitting again to deceive the public.
Its seems to be another drama - nothing new in this