Power-sharing: MQM-PPP coalition stuck in limbo

The MQM has demanded a written agreement regarding various issues from the PPP.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) claim to have reached an understanding to form a coalition government once again in Sindh. Reports suggest, however, that there is still a 'deadlock' between the parties over various issues.

This has caused the suspension of negotiations between the two parties regarding the power-sharing formula.  "Following the telephone conversation between the PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain, both parties had formed committees to accelerate the negotiations and finalise the power-sharing formula but hardly one meeting has been held so far," said a source privy to the developments. The source added that the MQM have demanded a written agreement for a 60 - 40 per cent quota in government jobs, a final date for the local government elections, development funds for their MPAs and full authority for their cabinet members.

"I cannot comment on the deadlock but I think the intent is not there to reach a consensus," said Syed Sardar Ahmed, the MQM's parliamentary leader.

According to sources, the MQM is closely monitoring the situation after the promulgation of the national action plan and the decision to start a targeted operation in the city. "The MQM, while sitting in the Sindh government, cannot afford an operation against its workers. Though they have issued a statement regarding an agreement with the PPP, the final decision has yet to be made," said a source in the party. The source added, however, that there will likely be seat adjustment in the upcoming Senate elections to be held on March 5 but the decision to form a coalition government is still awaited.

Meanwhile, with the reports of the deadlock between the two parties coming to the fore, the Pakistan Muslim League - Functional has once again approached the MQM to contest the Senate elections against the PPP in Sindh. PML-F leader Imtiaz Shaikh met the Sindh governor to discuss the matter on Friday. "I conveyed the message of Pir Pagara to the Sindh governor, asking to form an alliance of all opposition parties in the Sindh Assembly to jointly contest the Senate elections," he said.



The PPP and MQM had earlier made separate announcements stating that an understanding had been reached. Former interior minister Rehman Malik also met the MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London before he announced that the PPP will get seven seats in the Senate while the MQM will get four. Malik, who is also a Senate ticket-holder, said that the MQM had decided to join the Sindh government. "We have finalised the formula, but an unnecessary hype is being created against the PPP-MQM coalition."

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2015.