ID :
191712
Wed, 06/29/2011 - 08:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/191712
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Pakistani govt moves to avert political crisis
Islamabad, June 29, IRNA – The beleaguered government in Pakistan is struggling to avert political crisis after a key partner quit the coalition and President Asif Ali Zardari has personally stepped in to woo the angry group.
The Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) or United National Movement said that it has parted ways with the government led by Zardrai’s Pakistan Peoples Party as it has ‘adopted dictatorial attitude with allies’ and has ‘never addressed’ to their genuine demands.
A central MQM leader, Farooq Sattar, said that the decision is final and ruled out any change, saying the whole MQM leadership, members of the parliament and the activists were unanimous to quit the government.
Governor southern Sindh province, Ishratul Ebad, who belongs to MQM, also resigned under the party’s decision and left for London Monday night.
Spokesman for the Governor, Wajahat Ali, said the Government has sent his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari.
Two MQM ministers quit the Federal Cabinet and 13 ministers in the Sindh assembly have resigned.
MQM has 25 lawmakers in the National Assembly or Lower House of the parliament, who will now sit on the opposition benches.
The opposition parties have welcomed the MQM decision and said it will strengthen the opposition.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani will chair a special meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Tuesday to discuss the situation, an official source said.
There is no immediate threat to the government as it still enjoys majority in the parliament as the second largest opposition party Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) has already joined the government.
But political commentators are of the opinion that the MQM decision has plunged the government into a crisis, which faces challenges of violent extremism, terrorism and economic problems.
The Government sources say that President Asif Ali Zardari is currently in London on a private visit and is likely to meet the MQM chief Altaf Hussain to request him to withdraw his decision.
Hussain said on Sunday that 'destruction of the government has started'.
Sources said that President Zardari has asked the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani not to accept resignations of the MQM ministers.
He has also formed a committee of his party leaders to meet the angry MQM to bring them back to the cabinet.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the PPP will continue pursuing the policies of reconciliation in the interest of political stability and will urge the Governor to reconsider his decision to resign from the office of Governor.
A senior coalition leader Chaudhry Shujat Hussain on Monday phoned the MQM chief and asked him to review his decision.
The MQM leader asked Hussain to join the opposition.
Some quarters have expressed fear that the decision of the MQM, which represents the Urdu-speaking people in Karachi and urban areas in urban area of Sindh, can create law and order problem in the violence-stricken Karachi.
Resignation of the MQM has been felt by the government and that is why Presidential spokesman said in a statement that the issues facing the country and particularly the Sindh province were too many and complex and called for strengthening, instead of weakening, the on going policy of reconciliation with all political forces in the country./end
The Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) or United National Movement said that it has parted ways with the government led by Zardrai’s Pakistan Peoples Party as it has ‘adopted dictatorial attitude with allies’ and has ‘never addressed’ to their genuine demands.
A central MQM leader, Farooq Sattar, said that the decision is final and ruled out any change, saying the whole MQM leadership, members of the parliament and the activists were unanimous to quit the government.
Governor southern Sindh province, Ishratul Ebad, who belongs to MQM, also resigned under the party’s decision and left for London Monday night.
Spokesman for the Governor, Wajahat Ali, said the Government has sent his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari.
Two MQM ministers quit the Federal Cabinet and 13 ministers in the Sindh assembly have resigned.
MQM has 25 lawmakers in the National Assembly or Lower House of the parliament, who will now sit on the opposition benches.
The opposition parties have welcomed the MQM decision and said it will strengthen the opposition.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani will chair a special meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Tuesday to discuss the situation, an official source said.
There is no immediate threat to the government as it still enjoys majority in the parliament as the second largest opposition party Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) has already joined the government.
But political commentators are of the opinion that the MQM decision has plunged the government into a crisis, which faces challenges of violent extremism, terrorism and economic problems.
The Government sources say that President Asif Ali Zardari is currently in London on a private visit and is likely to meet the MQM chief Altaf Hussain to request him to withdraw his decision.
Hussain said on Sunday that 'destruction of the government has started'.
Sources said that President Zardari has asked the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani not to accept resignations of the MQM ministers.
He has also formed a committee of his party leaders to meet the angry MQM to bring them back to the cabinet.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the PPP will continue pursuing the policies of reconciliation in the interest of political stability and will urge the Governor to reconsider his decision to resign from the office of Governor.
A senior coalition leader Chaudhry Shujat Hussain on Monday phoned the MQM chief and asked him to review his decision.
The MQM leader asked Hussain to join the opposition.
Some quarters have expressed fear that the decision of the MQM, which represents the Urdu-speaking people in Karachi and urban areas in urban area of Sindh, can create law and order problem in the violence-stricken Karachi.
Resignation of the MQM has been felt by the government and that is why Presidential spokesman said in a statement that the issues facing the country and particularly the Sindh province were too many and complex and called for strengthening, instead of weakening, the on going policy of reconciliation with all political forces in the country./end
