MQM nominates opposition leader

The party has the single largest majority on the opposition benches with 48 seats.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has nominated Faisal Subzwari for the post of the leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly.

This was decided in a parliamentary party meeting, chaired by the party’s senior leader, Syed Sardar Ahmed, in Sindh Assembly on Friday. After the meeting, the elected members of the party met the Sindh Assembly’s secretary to submit nomination of Subzwari.

Speaking to media, Syed Sardar Ahmed said that the MQM had submitted an application signed by 48 elected members of the party for Subzwari’s appointment. “The MQM has a majority on the opposition benches so we deserve the slot for its leader in the house,” he asserted, adding that the party was consulting with the PML-N and the PML-F to create a strong and constructive opposition in the provincial assembly. “Other opposition groups have also assured us of their support, however, we have not reached a consensual agreement for a joint opposition yet,” he said.

Law and order

Subzwari said that the MQM will not play the role of a ‘friendly’ opposition but perform a positive role in the sessions by bringing forward the genuine issues being faced by the people.

Criticising the Sindh government over the current law and order situation, he said that they would try to summon a session of the assembly before the budget to discuss the rising crime rates. “We will not tolerate lip service on Karachi’s law and order situation anymore. We will adopt a practical approach and expose the real face of the government,” he said.  The MQM has proposed to the Sindh Assembly’s secretary to allot them the seats on the left side of the speaker’s chair.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2013.