MQM has nominated their senior leader Syed Sardar Ahmed for the post of Sindh Chief Minister. PHOTO: Online
Refusing the power-sharing offer by the Pakistan People’s Party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to sit in the opposition in both the National and Sindh assemblies.
The party, which was the PPP’s active coalition partners in Sindh for the past five years and left the government just a few months before its tenure ended, has now officially decided to sit on the opposition benches.
The much-awaited decision was announced by the Rabita Committee through a press statement on Wednesday night.
Wasay Jalil, a member of the new Rabita Committee, while talking to The Express Tribune said that the decision was taken in the light of public interest. “By sitting on the opposition benches, we will be able to serve the people better,” he said, adding the decision was taken after considering both negative and positive aspects.
Another spokesperson of the party, who did not want to be named, said that one of the reasons for the decision was that the MQM had carried the ‘excess baggage of the PPP in the past.’ The spokesperson said that though they were coalition partners of the PPP in the previous government, they had restricted powers and could not initiate much development in the city.
The party said that it would file its candidate for the post of the chief minister, and has nominated their senior leader Syed Sardar Ahmed for the post.
The MQM has also announced that Faisal Subzwari will be the parliamentary leader in the Sindh assembly, while Khawaja Izharul Hassan would be the deputy parliamentary leader. In the National Assembly, Dr Farooq Sattar will be the parliamentary leader while Rasheed Godil would be the deputy parliamentary leader. The Rabita committee statement also said that Ishratul Ebad had resigned from the MQM before becoming governor of Sindh, and that the decision on appointing the new governor would come from the federal government.
Opposition parties to put up a fight for CM slot
With the MQM’s decision to sit on the opposition benches, the other opposition parties are trying to convince its leadership to support their nominees for the chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker. The joint opposition, including PML-N, PML-F and even PTI, has nominated Ifranullah Marwat and Nusrat Seher Abbasi for the slots of speaker and deputy speaker against the PPP candidates Agha Siraj Durrani and Shehla Raza. Meanwhile, the MQM has nominated Khawaja Izharul Hassan as speaker and Heer Ismail Sohu as deputy speaker.
After the session, the PML-N’s Irfanullah Marwat told the media that they would not let the PPP’s candidates sail through without a contest. “Though they have a majority, we are following the parliamentary requirements,” he said, adding that they would also nominate the candidate for the chief minister slot and finalize the name by today (Thursday) morning.
On the other hand, one of the PML F leaders told The Express Tribune that the opposition parties are also trying to woo MQM to nominate a joint candidate against the PPP. “Since the MQM has also announced that they are considering nominating a candidate for the slot of chief minister we are trying to approach them to field a joint candidate,” he said.
“If the MQM agrees then the PML-F will nominate Imtiaz Shaikh for the slot of Chief Minister to contest against Syed Qaim Ali Shah,” he said.
But MQM leader Faisal Subzwari had a different view. “The Party has decided to nominate me as parliamentary leader and we are also holding talks with other opposition parties to support our candidate Syed Sardar Ahmed as leader of the house,” he said. The election for the leader of the house is scheduled at around 6:30PM today and will be held through a secret ballot.
Despite the MQM’s decision of sitting in the opposition, some reports suggest that the party has started bargaining with the PML-N in order to join the federal government; with others saying its decision to sit in the opposition in Sindh is also a way to improve its bargaining position with the PPP.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2013.
COMMENTS (39)
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@Shah:
After their very public spate following the elections and considering Imran Khan's headstrong personality, I'd say that's a big stretch.
Track record shows MQM bargains and will join PPP. They are the chip of the same block. How big is the cake and how much PPP wants to share MQM. This is all Noora kusti
@SM ZAKI: thanks for some wisdom
@Tausif: yes it is INSHALLAH will pay high divident
@Shaikh Muneeb:
Oh dear, don't say that Shaikh sb. you'll hurt his tiny little feelings.
@Aysha:
You know its funny that you actually believe that.... no wait its just plain sad.
Where did you get this news from?Siting in Canada I am unaware of this news.If MQM is a terrorist organisation what will you call TPP and Al-Quaida who have killed so many of our troops leave alone the civilians?
Doesn't matter whether MQM sits in the opposition or not, its co-operation is necessary to run Karachi. Karachi is MQM's political fixed-deposit!!!
@Aysha:
We Karachiites voted for PTI too so Karachi is not an exclusive property of MQM. BTW we would have even won in Azizabad and Lyari if MQM and PPP did not rig the elections.
PTI4Karachi@Ghulam Mustafa: Moderators need to make sure that mandate of the most educated, liberal and progressive people of Karachi is not ridiculed in this inane manner.
@Ghulam Mustafa: MQM leadership does not travel & fly off on Private Jets & helicopters, they also don't have Jewish funds , so how can they be terror party & PTI is not?
Very bad title of the news, ET. It gives a negative impression of MQM and presents this very important decision in a sarcastic manner. You dont have the right to make a mockery of serious move of the representative party of urban Sindh.
I think, MQM should help PPP to run Govt in sindh smoothly Both parties should make out a plan, how to work jointly in interest of people of Sindh I still request MQM to make joint Govt with PPP in Sindh
An excellent decision. And i pray that all the opposition lend their support to MQM's nominee for CM so that MQM can have its CM in Sindh. I can guarantee exceptional development in Sindh if CM is of MQM.
so caretaker setup to continue for another 5 years? the people wont be as easily fooled this time.
@PTI Karachi: First you were cribbing that they caused "havoc" in Karachi because they were in power Now you say that they will do the same thing while in opposition Wah....what an analysis @Aysha: PTI Logic....
For how long please? As long as the river runs dry.
MQM is blacklisted by Canadian Govt as a terrorist organization. They can't resist power for long, pretty sure, a few months down the line, they'll go into PPP embraces once more. MQM is the only party that has agreed on ANY and ALL terms just to get a piece of the pie in last several govts. No moral values what so ever.
Yep, now they would not look like jokers when blaming everything on to the government like they did in the past, being part of all the governments!
MQM is a terrorist organisation and whoever supports it is a terrorist as well.
@PTI Karachi: Such positive thinking. They will create choas for their own voters, how does that suit them?
Bravo! Let them work as a forceful opposition and prove they can survive without leaning on the shoulder of the PPP. However, for the next five years, Inshallah, the party must learn not to throw threats of a walkout. The previous five years as a coalition partner made them look helpless, and why they stayed on when no development projects were initiated or completed in Sindh, remains a mystery. Some months back Altaf had claimed that the next CM will be from the MQM, which irreversibly proved true and the party had to eat its words. The entire rural Sindh is kept under developed, so, the votes can go to the PPP whose backbone is not education but lavish expenditures on their party members. Let this decision be permanent for five years and joining hands with the PMLN will serve as a nuance of goodwill. Salams
Now they will create chaos in Karachi while they sit in opposition.
@Imran: Let me correct you, he's the leader of MQM not of karachi.
Political gymnastics by MQM, nothing new, one day with the goverment next day in the opposition while karachi burns, onus is on the people of karachi who keep on voting for MQM, at present PTI support has made them a bit insecure and hence they are making all theses changes...time to improve or perish like PPP.
A very good and senseble decision and a big slap on those faces who used to blame MQM that it cant sit in oppostion. SM ZAKI
Its a wise and senseable decision and will bring postive results not only for MQM but for Sindh province too. This decision will also put lid on this propagnda that Muttahida cant sit in opposition. Besides, MQM should also focuss on law and order and improving educational and recreational activities in its under influence areas. As far as propganda of anti-MQM elements , whether they are in oppostion or in media, is concerned it will continue. But Muttahida should not pay any heed to such trivial things and avoid unnecessary confrontation. Best wishes to Muttahida. SM ZAKI,QUETTA.
MQM can get neither governorship of Sindh nor CM of their choice. So lets sit in opposition.
Grapes are sour!!!!
Two birds in one shot: - Blackmail PPP. - Get the maximum out of PML-N.
“By sitting on the opposition benches, we will be able to serve the people better,” Now they are using this justification, when last five years people kept asking them to part ways from corrupt PPP govt, they said, we would serve our masses better by sitting in govt. seems like they didn't get any desired ministry from PPP this time and they already got slap on the face from masses
They should make a drama serial out of all the MQM episodes.
Wait,they will shortly join......can't live without it?
"The Rabita committee statement also said that Ishratul Ebad had resigned from the MQM before becoming governor of Sindh" The above statement says it all.
Have to admit MQM are very quick learners though I still feel if PTI & MQM can work together in near future things can have a positive impact on the governance of Pakistan specially Karachi.
I was a huge supporter of MQM many years ago, but when the sided with PPP, and made negative comments against Nawaz Sharif and PML N, I along with many people living in Lahore started to view MQM as a agent of the Establishment. However, I am willing to morally support MQM again if they sit in the opposition in Sindh. MQM is truly the most interesting political party in Pakistan.
I love you Altaf bhai !! You are true leader of Karachi !
What does MQM bargain for?
Do individuals in the party gain anything at personal level out of any set up that they become a part of?
There are no financial irregularities associated with MQM parliamentarians, so basically a clean lot.
If they bargain with parites with larger share in the assemblies, it is purely done for the peace, and if get lucky intermittent prosperity of their voters.
MQM is a party capable of making positive contribution whichever set up they join because they do not allow national interest to be compromised
Good Decision by MQM :)