Muttahida back in govt saddle

KARACHI – The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) once again walked backed to the PPP arms in ‘larger national interest’ with party’s chief broker telling media persons on Wednesday that MQM ministers will resume their charge today (Thursday).

Addressing a joint press conference after a meeting of PPP and MQM at Governor House on Wednesday night, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah announced that MQM is rejoining the government both at centre and in the province.

Ebad said there was no need for fresh oaths as President Asif Ali Zardari as well as well as he in his capacity as Sindh governor had not accepted the resignations of MQM ministers, so they will just go to their offices and start their work.

A day ago, an MQM delegation comprising Muhammad Raza Haroon and former federal minister Senator Babar Khan Ghauri called on high officials of the PPP in Islamabad where they reportedly discussed the matters relating to their rejoining the government. Sources said that the meeting had ended positively in Islamabad with the PPP accepting some of MQM conditions and finalising the deal.

Latter, the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshi Ahmed Shah reached at CM’s House and informed the CM about the details of Islamabad meeting. He then alongwith CM Qaim Ali Shah and other PPP leaders, including Pir Mazharul Haq, Home Minister Manzoor Hussain Wassan and Agha Siraj Durani, reached at Governor’s House, where they held a meeting with an MQM delegation led by Dr Farooq Sattar and comprising Muhammad Raza Haroon, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Aadil Siddique, Wasim Aftab and Senator Babar Khan Ghauri. Sindh Governor Dr Ishartul Ebad also participated from the MQM side.

After the things already settled in Islamabad, the Governor’s House meeting was understandably more of a symbolic exercise than of any real value. Ebad and Qaim said that President Asif Ali Zardari had phoned MQM chief Altaf Hussain two months ago on August 19, 2010 and invited him to rejoin the government. The MQM chief took the offer seriously and made consultations within his party men, convincing them to rejoin the PPP-led coalition government, Edad added.

Karachi also suffered a lot due to the differences between the former allies, the governor said, adding that the law and order situation has improved significantly due to joint efforts of the two parties. Governor said that rejoining the government was difficult decision but MQM took this ‘bold step’ in ‘the larger interest of country’.

To a question, Ebad said that MQM will have same ministries in centre; however, it would be the discretion of Sindh chief minister to decide on the provincial portfolios for the MQM. He said that a committee has been formed to reach an amicable solution in this regard.

On this occasion, Qaim AIi Shah said that despite the gap between PPP and MQM, contacts were not broken between the leadership of the parties. The rejoining of government by MQM will positively impact the situation of country, especially of Sindh, he added. It would also help in maintaining peace in the Karachi, he said.

Sindh CM went on to say that PPP and MQM will focus to provide the relief to the people as only one and half years remaining to complete the tenure of present government. He said that both parties will contest elections jointly on the basis of performances, hoping that they will succeed again in next elections.