MQM rejoins PPP-led coalition, rejects comeback to Cabinet

Tribune

KARACHI: The MQM Rabita committee has decided that the MQM will rejoin the government, but will not currently return to the federal cabinet. This was announced at Nine Zero by MQM leader Raza Haroon, following a key visit by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Haroon said the decision to return to the government benches was taken in light of the state of crisis the nation is going through. Haroon said he hoped the government would come up with a plan to weed out and reduce corruption, and address the needs of the people.

He claimed that the party had “decided to sacrifice” itself again for the sake of democracy and join the government in view of the “deteriorating law and order situation and economic conditions of our people”.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Gilani said he spoke to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on the telephone where he told the MQM chief that the government would like to work with the MQM on all major issues.

A visibly relieved prime minister said “We welcome the MQM decision and appreciate their sentiments for democracy in Pakistan and hope our association will last long in the larger interest of the people of Pakistan.”

“Through consensus, we withdrew the petrol price hike, which was one of the MQM’s principal demands… This is Pakistan’s first assembly to take all actions with consensus,” Gilani said.

With regards to the reformed general sales tax bill (RGST) Gilani said that he reassured Hussain that the government would not move forward on the bill without consensus. The prime minister invited Hussain and all parties to take part in formulating the RGST bill in order to ensure transparency in its finalisation and implementation.

Gilani and his aides were showered with rose petals upon arrival at the Pakistan headquarters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) — symbolically his first visit to the premises since becoming premier in 2008.

The MQM had walked out of government last Sunday, taking its 25 lawmakers on to the opposition benches. The move saw Gilani lose his majority in parliament and raised fears that his administration could be forced to call early elections.

In public, the party had attributed its decision to a hike in fuel prices and government failures to handle fiscal reform, corruption and inflation.

With the MQM lawmakers off the opposition benches and back on the treasury benches, Gilani leads a coalition that again controls a slender majority of around 185 seats in the 342-member lower house of parliament.