Differences appear within the opposition in the Sindh Assembly
MQM hopeful of getting PML-N, PML-F and PTI on board for a ‘strong’ opposition.
Newly-elected northwestern Sindh provincial assembly members take an oath at the provincial assembly building in Karachi on May 29, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is the second largest party in the Sindh Assembly after the Pakistan Peoples Party, might feel lonely on the opposition benches as Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Functional have decided to form their own group.
“MQM has majority of the seats and have a right to appoint the leader of the opposition but since we differ with them on many issues, we will make our own group,” PML-N’s MPA Irfanullah Khan Marwat told The Express Tribune.
Imtiaz Shaikh of the PML-F seconded Marwat’s statement, saying that his party will sit with PML-N and make a joint group in the provincial assembly. “We may develop working relations with the MQM but it is not necessary that we agree with them on all issues,” he said. “We will negotiate with all the opposition parties to devise a joint strategy for dealing with the problems faced by the people of Sindh.”
Earlier, the Nawaz-led party had reportedly decided to appoint the opposition leader in consultation with PML-F, assuming that MQM would join the coalition government. The decision by Muttahida to be in the opposition, however, changed the situation for all parties.
The PML-N has nine members in the Sindh Assembly, PML -F has ten and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has four. Leaders of PTI have yet to decide which group in the opposition they want to join or whether they will make their own faction.
The Muttahida, however, has stressed that it would try to make a joint opposition in the provincial assembly.
“We will nominate the opposition leader as we have the majority seats,” said Faisal Subzwari of the MQM. According to Subzwari, his party will play a “constructive” and “strong” role in the assembly by approaching other parties in the opposition to join them. “We will soon speak to PML-N, PML-F and PTI to make a strong opposition in the assembly,” he said, adding that his party will convene its parliamentary party meeting today [Thursday] for further decisions in the matter.
Nomination of opposition leader
MQM nominated Syed Sardar Ahmed as the parliamentary leader and Khawaja Izharul Hassan as his deputy in the provincial assembly on Wednesday. Earlier, the party had announced to appoint Faisal Subzwari for the slot of the parliamentary leader.
The decision to nominate Ahmed was made during the MQM parliamentary meeting held in the Sindh Assembly. After the meeting, Subzwari informed media said that given Ahmed’s experience, his name had been suggested by the newly-elected parliamentarians.
“Extrajudicial killings of our activists have started in Karachi. Not only terrorists but law enforcement agencies are killing our workers in broad daylight,” said Subzwari while speaking to the media. “We appeal to President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to take this matter seriously.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2013.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is the second largest party in the Sindh Assembly after the Pakistan Peoples Party, might feel lonely on the opposition benches as Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz and Functional have decided to form their own group.
“MQM has majority of the seats and have a right to appoint the leader of the opposition but since we differ with them on many issues, we will make our own group,” PML-N’s MPA Irfanullah Khan Marwat told The Express Tribune.
Imtiaz Shaikh of the PML-F seconded Marwat’s statement, saying that his party will sit with PML-N and make a joint group in the provincial assembly. “We may develop working relations with the MQM but it is not necessary that we agree with them on all issues,” he said. “We will negotiate with all the opposition parties to devise a joint strategy for dealing with the problems faced by the people of Sindh.”
Earlier, the Nawaz-led party had reportedly decided to appoint the opposition leader in consultation with PML-F, assuming that MQM would join the coalition government. The decision by Muttahida to be in the opposition, however, changed the situation for all parties.
The PML-N has nine members in the Sindh Assembly, PML -F has ten and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has four. Leaders of PTI have yet to decide which group in the opposition they want to join or whether they will make their own faction.
The Muttahida, however, has stressed that it would try to make a joint opposition in the provincial assembly.
“We will nominate the opposition leader as we have the majority seats,” said Faisal Subzwari of the MQM. According to Subzwari, his party will play a “constructive” and “strong” role in the assembly by approaching other parties in the opposition to join them. “We will soon speak to PML-N, PML-F and PTI to make a strong opposition in the assembly,” he said, adding that his party will convene its parliamentary party meeting today [Thursday] for further decisions in the matter.
Nomination of opposition leader
MQM nominated Syed Sardar Ahmed as the parliamentary leader and Khawaja Izharul Hassan as his deputy in the provincial assembly on Wednesday. Earlier, the party had announced to appoint Faisal Subzwari for the slot of the parliamentary leader.
The decision to nominate Ahmed was made during the MQM parliamentary meeting held in the Sindh Assembly. After the meeting, Subzwari informed media said that given Ahmed’s experience, his name had been suggested by the newly-elected parliamentarians.
“Extrajudicial killings of our activists have started in Karachi. Not only terrorists but law enforcement agencies are killing our workers in broad daylight,” said Subzwari while speaking to the media. “We appeal to President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to take this matter seriously.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2013.