Annoyed MQM decides to join Opposition
Bureau Report

KARACHI—Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabta Committee said that MQM will now sit on the opposition benches, seeing the non-serious attitude from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership. Addressing the press conference at MQM headquarters Nine Zero, Dr Farooq Sattar said that his party has serious reservations over the appointment of new Sindh IG Police Shoaib Suddle.
He maintained Shoaib Suddle is responsible for the killings of many MQM workers and their bereaved families are quite grieved at his appointment. His appointment shows that PPP leadership is not serious in negotiations and reconciliation process between the two parties, he said, adding the failure of negotiations lies with PPP leadership.
This decision has been endorsed by MQM chief Altaf Hussain, he said. ‘We hope that PPP government will respect this MQM decision to sit on opposition benches,’ he said. ‘We gave a very warm reception to PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari at Nine Zero; however, when the MQM convoy arrived at Garhi Khuda Bux, it was given a cold shoulder by PPP leadership, even no PPP leader came to receive the convoy,’ he said. ‘If it is thought that we could be suppressed, we want to clarify that this is not 1995, this is 2008,’ Farooq Sattar, adding that his party and party workers are ready to pass every hard ordeal, however. ‘I urged all the MQM workers to contact and serve people and inform them about the situation,’ he said.
On this occasion, he responded a query and rejected the idea that MQM asked any ministry from the government, saying the negotiations did not reach that far, as the talks were aimed at seeking the best working relationship. MQM will continue supporting the positive steps of the government and will not back down from the politics based on principle, he added.
Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari said it was due to the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto that democracy is getting strengthened in the country. Reacting to MQM decision to sit on the opposition benches, Shaziz Mari said MQM objections are quite mediocre and the issues in comparison are of mammoth stature. PPP believes in taking along all the parties.. and PPP wants MQM to sit with them, she said. Shazia Mari said PPP has its doors still open for MQM. Information Minister Sherry Rehman said Sunday that the reservations showed by the MQM leadership was the part of democratic process and it was their right to decide to sit in the opposition. Talking to a private News Channel (ARY Oneworld), she said that every political party has a right to join opposition or to become a coalition partner.
She expressed the resolve that the reconciliation process would not stop and it would continue even after failure of the talks with MQM. “MQM is a political reality of Sindh and it is upto them to decide whether to join opposition or the coalition. We respect MQM as well as other political powers”, she added.
About the reservations from MQM and its point of view in which MQM held PPP responsible for the failure in talks, she said that it was their point of view and in democracy everyone has a right to express its opinion. Responding to a question, the Information Minister said that People’s Party had always faced the challenges in a heroic manner and expressed the confidence that even now, the party would not leave any stone unturned to achieve its targets and face the challenges.