MQM agrees to join Sindh govt, claims Malik

KARACHI: Former interior minister Senator Rehman Malik has claimed that all issues with the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have been settled and it has been agreed in principle for the MQM to once again join the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PP) as a coalition partner in the Sindh government.
Talking to the media here on Saturday, the PPP Senator said that almost all the issues had been settled and a resolution to the issues would pave the way for the MQM to join hands once again with the PPP as a coalition partner in the provincial government.
He said that MQM would be given its due share in the prospective coalition arrangement to run the provincial govt. The senator said that both the major political parties of Sindh would enter into the arena of the upcoming Senate polls in alliance.
He said the Friday night telephonic contact between former president Asif Ali Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain had helped a lot in forgetting the misgivings of the past between the two main political parties of the province. Rehman Malik said that after the telephonic conversation between Asif Zardari and Altaf Hussain he was leaving for London to meet Altaf Hussain on the instructions of the PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
He said that it was expected that all matters would be finalised regarding the MQM’s joining the Sindh government during his meeting with Altaf Hussain in London.
Rehman Malik did not give any exact timeframe when the MQM would join the PPP as a coalition partner but said that the political reconciliation will happen very soon.
NNI adds: Meanwhile, the PPP and MQM decided to form separate committees to proceed for seat adjustments in the Senate elections and both committees would comprise four members each.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and MQM’s Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui would head their respective committees and reach a decision on seat adjustments. Meanwhile, Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Senator Rehman Malik also held meetings.
On the other hand, Senator Islamuddin Shaikh of the PPP has been assigned the task to approach the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) with regard to seat adjustments in the Senate. The PPP had conveyed to the PML-F leadership that the PPP would support PML-F candidates and would seek cooperation from the latter for PPP candidates.
The PPP had been striving to will at least seven Senate seats and leave three and one for the MQM and the PML-F respectively. However, if the PML-F declines to reach an agreement with the PPP, the ruling party would struggle to secure eight Senate seats.
On the other hand, the MQM was also in contact with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) while the PML-N MPAs were opposing the seat adjustment formula with the PPP and showed an inclination towards the PML-F candidates.