MQM quits PPP-led coalition government ahead of polls

Farooq Sattar announces that the party will now sit on the opposition benches.

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.”