No pressure on PPP to include MQM in govt: Qaim
June 27, 2013
Karachi
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday denied any “external” pressure on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to include the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the provincial government.
“We are continuing with the reconciliation policy of our beloved leader Benazir Bhutto and want to take all stakeholders along with us,” he said at a dinner hosted by PPP MPA Owais Muzaffar at his residence.
When asked if his party would also hold a referendum to ask the people whether the MQM should be made part of the government, the chief minister said PPP activists “are with us and we have every respect for our voters”.
When asked if vacant cabinet portfolios would be given to the MQM, he said expansion of the cabinet would be considered after the budget session.
Replying to a question about the murder of MQM MPA Sajid Qureshi, the chief minister said a joint investigation committee was conducting a probe into the murder, and though Taliban had claimed responsibility, the government would wait for the inquiry report.
He added that over two million people were living unconstitutionally in Sindh and it was very difficult to deport them.
Former army chief Pervez Musharraf should be tried in accordance with the law, Shah said.
Replying to another question on a court ruling against out-of-turn promotions, he said a law allowing such promotions had been passed by the assembly and legal experts would decide whether or not to file a review petition.
On this occasion, a number of PPP leaders, including ministers, said any interference from the centre in Sindh’s law and order situation would be unacceptable.
Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has clearly stated that the federal government has no intention to interfere in the affairs of the province. Rather, he says, it would extend cooperation to the provincial government to improve the law and order situation if needed.
But the PPP leadership remains sceptical and insists that law and order is a provincial subject under the 18th amendment and the federal government must not think of playing any role in this regard.
Those who attended the dinner included Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani and Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza.
Muzaffar said the PPP was working on the vision of Benazir Bhutto, who believed in the welfare of the people, and would never disappoint its representatives.
Commenting on the MQM’s referendum on whether to join the government, Nisar Khuhro said it was its internal matter. He said not only Lyari but the entire Sindh was a stronghold of the PPP.
Sharjeel Memon said the PPP supported the parliament’s decision on Musharaf, but he should be tried for the October 12, 1999 coup when Nawaz Sharif’s government was dismissed. He said that whoever trampled the constitution should be taken to task.
Over the last 25 years, he said, Karachi had remained destabilised. He said the PPP arrested hardened criminals in its tenure.
He said the Sindh government could not be toppled unconstitutionally as it had come into power through people’s votes.
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday denied any “external” pressure on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to include the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the provincial government.
“We are continuing with the reconciliation policy of our beloved leader Benazir Bhutto and want to take all stakeholders along with us,” he said at a dinner hosted by PPP MPA Owais Muzaffar at his residence.
When asked if his party would also hold a referendum to ask the people whether the MQM should be made part of the government, the chief minister said PPP activists “are with us and we have every respect for our voters”.
When asked if vacant cabinet portfolios would be given to the MQM, he said expansion of the cabinet would be considered after the budget session.
Replying to a question about the murder of MQM MPA Sajid Qureshi, the chief minister said a joint investigation committee was conducting a probe into the murder, and though Taliban had claimed responsibility, the government would wait for the inquiry report.
He added that over two million people were living unconstitutionally in Sindh and it was very difficult to deport them.
Former army chief Pervez Musharraf should be tried in accordance with the law, Shah said.
Replying to another question on a court ruling against out-of-turn promotions, he said a law allowing such promotions had been passed by the assembly and legal experts would decide whether or not to file a review petition.
On this occasion, a number of PPP leaders, including ministers, said any interference from the centre in Sindh’s law and order situation would be unacceptable.
Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has clearly stated that the federal government has no intention to interfere in the affairs of the province. Rather, he says, it would extend cooperation to the provincial government to improve the law and order situation if needed.
But the PPP leadership remains sceptical and insists that law and order is a provincial subject under the 18th amendment and the federal government must not think of playing any role in this regard.
Those who attended the dinner included Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani and Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza.
Muzaffar said the PPP was working on the vision of Benazir Bhutto, who believed in the welfare of the people, and would never disappoint its representatives.
Commenting on the MQM’s referendum on whether to join the government, Nisar Khuhro said it was its internal matter. He said not only Lyari but the entire Sindh was a stronghold of the PPP.
Sharjeel Memon said the PPP supported the parliament’s decision on Musharaf, but he should be tried for the October 12, 1999 coup when Nawaz Sharif’s government was dismissed. He said that whoever trampled the constitution should be taken to task.
Over the last 25 years, he said, Karachi had remained destabilised. He said the PPP arrested hardened criminals in its tenure.
He said the Sindh government could not be toppled unconstitutionally as it had come into power through people’s votes.
