MQM finally allocated opposition benches

The party had earlier nominated Syed Sardar Ahmed for the post.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) would be allocated opposition seats in the Sindh Assembly on Thursday, acting speaker Shehla Raza announced on Wednesday.

The announcement followed the MQM's decision to replace Syed Sardar Ahmed's name as their opposition leader nominee by giving the post to Amir Moin Peerzada.

The MQM had asked the acting speaker to approve their applications of sitting on the opposition benches that were lodged on February 25, after party leaders announced their exit from the ruling coalition.

Peerzada is the chairman of Sindh Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health.

Last week, the MQM maintained that their party was the second largest in the assembly with 50 MPAs, and since they have decided to sit on the opposition benches, their nominated candidate should be appointed opposition leader.

Around 20 MPAs of the party were signatories on the application.

The party quit the coalition government earlier this month and decided to sit on the opposition benches. Party leaders maintained that the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was patronising criminals of the Peoples Aman Committee and the Lyari gangs by withdrawing cases.

The withdrawal of the Sindh Peoples Local Government Act of 2012 created further rifts between the PPP and the MQM and hastened the latter's exit from the coalition government.