MQM to join Sindh govt, finally

MQM is all set to join Sindh govt and become PPP's coalition partner for a second time, says a senior party official.

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is all set to join the Sindh government and become Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) coalition partner for a second time, a senior party official told The Express Tribune.

“There is a possibility that our party would be joining the Sindh government,” he said, adding that the MQM parliamentarians would most likely be taking oath as ministers and advisers in a ceremony at the governor house on Tuesday.

Though the official did not confirm the number of ministerial and advisers’ positions being awarded to the party as well as their names, news channels reported that the Muttehida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was being allotted three to four ministries, while two party members were to be inducted as advisers.

In March, The Express Tribune reported that names of potential ministers had been sent to the MQM chief Altaf Hussain for approval, while the ministries likely to be handed out to the MQM include health, information technology, Auqaf and commerce and industries.

Commenting on the news, Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon said the PPP believed in the politics of reconciliation and welcomed the MQM to join the provincial government.



He, however, refused to tell which ministries were to be given to the MQM.

It is learned that MQM had agreed in principle to join the Sindh government; however the announcement was delayed as the two parties were engaged in protracted negotiations over ministries.

The MQM was the PPP’s coalition partner in the last tenure but had quit the government just months before the general elections of 2013.

After the polls, the party decided not to become part of the government, and chose to sit on the opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly.

The decision of not joining the government was taken as majority of the people were unhappy with the performance of the MQM as part of the government.

However, over the past few weeks, and especially since last month’s meeting in Dubai between the PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari and the MQM delegations, dialogue had resumed between the two over possibility of becoming coalition partners again.

Since last month, the two parties had been advised by their top leaders not to issue statements against each other, and to promote cordial relations.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2014.