Decision time: Crucial MQM meeting today

MQM convenes high-level meeting to discuss "all possible options" available in the wake of Mirza's statements.

KARACHI: While the Pakistan Peoples Party is dealing with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F quitting the federal coalition, an even bigger crisis looms for the ruling party.

Another coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has convened a high-level meeting to be held today (Wednesday) simultaneously in London and Karachi in the wake of yet another verbal assault launched on the party by Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza. The MQM had decided to take the matter to the president and prime minister. There had been no official response from the two till Tuesday.

The crucial MQM meeting will discuss and delineate “all possible options” available to the party, according to MQM’s Faisal Subzwari – which would also include quitting the coalition. The MQM has 25 seats in the National Assembly, making it the fourth-largest entity in the house.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2010.