News
Monday, October 18, 2010
PPP and MQM in midnight near miss
* Parties decide to resolve issues amicably
* Zardrai assures Ebad govt will probe target-killing incidents, bring culprits to justice
Staff Report
KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The coalition government in Sindh survived an upheaval on Sunday midnight due to last-minute efforts by the ruling Pakistan People’s Party to pacify its partner in the province, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
Tensions had been building between the two parties due to the recent spate of target killings in Karachi and MQM’s reservations over the conduct of Sindh as well as of the federal government.
The party had reportedly decided to part ways with the PPP in Sindh, while Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad had also decided to tender his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari during a scheduled meeting between the two later in the day. However, the twist in the tale came in after the meeting between Zardari and Ebad in Islamabad, and a subsequent phone call by Interior Minister Rehman Malik to MQM chief Altaf Hussain, after which the MQM reverted its decision of quitting the coalition. During the meeting, Ebad conveyed to Zardari his party’s reservations regarding the prevailing law and order situation in the city. “Our workers are being killed in the city,” he told Zardari, adding that the MQM was planning to quit the coalition government.
Probe: Zardari told Ebad that the government would not leave its coalition members alone. He said the government would address all reservations of the MQM. He assured the Sindh governor that the government would probe into the incidents of target killings, adding that the culprits would be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, after talking to Interior Minister Rehman Malik, MQM chief Altaf Hussain stopped the Sindh governor from tendering his resignation. Malik said the PPP and MQM would jointly bring peace in the city.
Earlier, the Sindh governor had telephoned Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday afternoon, which created a chaotic situation.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk