source of news : Dawn
dated : 6/5/11
Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who had acted as a mediator between the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples Party. File Photo
ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which quit the federal government four months ago to protest an increase in oil prices, is set to rejoin the cabinet with a bigger prize under its arm.
According to sources, four of the partys members double the number it previously had in the cabinet are expected to take oath as ministers on Saturday before the departure of President Asif Ali Zardari for visits to Kuwait and Russia.
The sources said that one of the posts to be filled by the MQM would be the minister of state for interior. The party has also been offered the ministries of ports and shipping, labour and manpower and information technology.
They said former Sindh home minister Waseem Akhtar would most probably become the minister of state under Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who had acted as a mediator between the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Political circles say the office is significant in the context of a bloody turf war going on among coalition partners in the urban areas of Sindh, the home ground of the MQM.
The source said MQMs parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghouri and Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi were expected to become federal ministers.
A day before the departure of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to France on May 3, a much-talked about deal between the PPP and the PML-Q materialised when 14 Q-League members took oath as ministers.
Political observers believe that it is because of an intelligent PPP move to lure the PML-Q into the cabinet that the MQM has been left with no option but to rejoin the cabinet.
However, Sindh Minister Faisal Sabzwari of the MQM, who has been a part of the negotiations with the PPP, denied that the partys decision had anything to do with PML-Q joining the government.
He said the MQM was the most receptive party towards its constituents that doesnt have any inhibition in revisiting its policies and decisions.
He said the party still could revisit its position if it would be beneficial for its voters. The two MQM ministers had quit the cabinet on Dec 29 after the expiry of a 10-day deadline given to the PPP for an explanation over a statement of Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza blaming the party for target killings in Karachi. At that time, however, the MQM said it would continue to sit on the treasury benches and give more time to President Zardari, who is the PPP co-chairman, to fulfill an unknown commitment made with the partys representatives in previous meetings.
One week later, the party announced that it would sit on the opposition benches in parliament to register its protest over the governments decision to increase oil prices.
When the government withdrew the increase in oil prices and the prime minister visited the MQM headquarters in Karachi, the party announced that it would again sit on the treasury benches, but refused to join the federal cabinet.
The party had quit the government when it announced a nine per cent increase in oil prices and it is now rejoining the cabinet despite the fact that the prices have been increased by up to 20 per cent during the period.
Moreover, the MQM formally announced its decision of rejoining the federal cabinet on Wednesday, the day the government announced a countrywide increase in the price of CNG.
In reply to a question, the MQM leader said the increase in oil prices was one of the reasons for the party to come out of the government, and not the only issue. In fact, it came as the proverbial last straw on the camels back, he said, adding that his party had used this as an opportunity to quit the government.
Mr Sabzwari said the main concerns for his party were the law and order situation in Karachi, particularly the ongoing targeted killings and extortion by various mafias, and the economic situation in the country.
He said the party had presented nine proposals, including suggestions for taxation, to the government for the coming budget. He expressed the hope that the PPP leadership would this time fulfill its commitments made with the MQM
dated : 6/5/11
According to sources, four of the partys members double the number it previously had in the cabinet are expected to take oath as ministers on Saturday before the departure of President Asif Ali Zardari for visits to Kuwait and Russia.
The sources said that one of the posts to be filled by the MQM would be the minister of state for interior. The party has also been offered the ministries of ports and shipping, labour and manpower and information technology.
They said former Sindh home minister Waseem Akhtar would most probably become the minister of state under Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who had acted as a mediator between the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Political circles say the office is significant in the context of a bloody turf war going on among coalition partners in the urban areas of Sindh, the home ground of the MQM.
The source said MQMs parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghouri and Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi were expected to become federal ministers.
A day before the departure of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to France on May 3, a much-talked about deal between the PPP and the PML-Q materialised when 14 Q-League members took oath as ministers.
Political observers believe that it is because of an intelligent PPP move to lure the PML-Q into the cabinet that the MQM has been left with no option but to rejoin the cabinet.
However, Sindh Minister Faisal Sabzwari of the MQM, who has been a part of the negotiations with the PPP, denied that the partys decision had anything to do with PML-Q joining the government.
He said the MQM was the most receptive party towards its constituents that doesnt have any inhibition in revisiting its policies and decisions.
He said the party still could revisit its position if it would be beneficial for its voters. The two MQM ministers had quit the cabinet on Dec 29 after the expiry of a 10-day deadline given to the PPP for an explanation over a statement of Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza blaming the party for target killings in Karachi. At that time, however, the MQM said it would continue to sit on the treasury benches and give more time to President Zardari, who is the PPP co-chairman, to fulfill an unknown commitment made with the partys representatives in previous meetings.
One week later, the party announced that it would sit on the opposition benches in parliament to register its protest over the governments decision to increase oil prices.
When the government withdrew the increase in oil prices and the prime minister visited the MQM headquarters in Karachi, the party announced that it would again sit on the treasury benches, but refused to join the federal cabinet.
The party had quit the government when it announced a nine per cent increase in oil prices and it is now rejoining the cabinet despite the fact that the prices have been increased by up to 20 per cent during the period.
Moreover, the MQM formally announced its decision of rejoining the federal cabinet on Wednesday, the day the government announced a countrywide increase in the price of CNG.
In reply to a question, the MQM leader said the increase in oil prices was one of the reasons for the party to come out of the government, and not the only issue. In fact, it came as the proverbial last straw on the camels back, he said, adding that his party had used this as an opportunity to quit the government.
Mr Sabzwari said the main concerns for his party were the law and order situation in Karachi, particularly the ongoing targeted killings and extortion by various mafias, and the economic situation in the country.
He said the party had presented nine proposals, including suggestions for taxation, to the government for the coming budget. He expressed the hope that the PPP leadership would this time fulfill its commitments made with the MQM
