Coalition govt: Khursheed urges MQM to ‘withdraw statement’

MQM chief had appealed to armed forces not to pay heed to govt if they ask military to intervene in Muslim countries.

ISLAMABAD:

Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah said on Monday it will ‘be difficult’ for the Pakistan Peoples Party to form a coalition government in Sindh ‘unless the MQM withdraws its statement’ regarding the army.

On March 18, the MQM chief had appealed to the armed forces not to pay heed to the government in case they ask the military to intervene in sectarian conflicts in Muslim countries.

“The MQM has always supported martial law,” Shah said, “And if the PPP makes a coalition government with the MQM, the people of Pakistan will consider that we are on the same page regarding the army.”

Speaking with the media on Monday, Shah said that his party ‘believes in dialogue – today our party is negotiating with the MQM and tomorrow we may speak to another political party for the sake of democracy’.

Party sources said the leadership is trying to convey an impression that it is facing stiff resistance to the coalition. “Do you think Shah is giving statements on his own?” a PPP leader told The Express Tribune. “It is not possible without Zardari’s consent.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2014.