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No MQM ministers at Centre to appease PML-N
Monday, July 14, 2008
By Mumtaz Alvi
ISLAMABAD: In order to appease the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has again decided, at least for the time being, not to take ministers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), The News learnt here on Sunday.
A source in the PPP said that there was no chance of MQM legislators making their way to the federal cabinet, at least for now, despite having a share in the government in Sindh. "This policy is primarily aimed at appeasing the PPP's major partner, the PML-N, as MQM's inclusion may further deepen misunderstandings or difference of opinion on the issue of reinstatement of judges," he said while replying to a question.
He maintained that unless urgency cropped up, or something dramatic happened, there was no possibility of the MQM becoming a part of the ruling coalition in the Centre. PML-N spokesman Muhammad Siddiqul Farooq told this correspondent that they were opposed to the MQM's share in the central government as the party had serious reservations about its past role on certain matters.
"We have already conveyed it to the PPP and we are confident that they would respect our viewpoint in this connection," he maintained. It is pertinent that the MQM has been included in the provincial set-up but it continues to back President Pervez Musharraf and has also made it clear to the PPP that the chances of its supporting an impeachment motion against President Musharraf were almost nil.
Whereas, unlike the PPP, the PML-N is fiercely against President Musharraf's role in the new dispensation. It has repeatedly called for his impeachment. Similarly, notwithstanding pressure from the PPP, the MQM has staunchly defended its Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad in Sindh, the source pointed out. He was flown in from London after the 2002 general election to assume the coveted post. When approached on telephone, a central leader of the MQM and Member of Parliament, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi, confirmed that the PPP had not yet contacted his party to discuss modalities about joining the federal government.
Asked if they would be invited to join the federal cabinet at a later stage, he was not sure and said that as things stood today, the MQM might not be invited to join the central government. "But in politics you are never sure what exactly may happen the very next moment. So, let's sit back and wait," he remarked in a lighter vein. The MQM and the Balochistan National Party-Awami are the only two parties that are part of the present ruling coalition at the provincial level and had their share in the previous government as well.
Monday, July 14, 2008
By Mumtaz Alvi
ISLAMABAD: In order to appease the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has again decided, at least for the time being, not to take ministers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), The News learnt here on Sunday.
A source in the PPP said that there was no chance of MQM legislators making their way to the federal cabinet, at least for now, despite having a share in the government in Sindh. "This policy is primarily aimed at appeasing the PPP's major partner, the PML-N, as MQM's inclusion may further deepen misunderstandings or difference of opinion on the issue of reinstatement of judges," he said while replying to a question.
He maintained that unless urgency cropped up, or something dramatic happened, there was no possibility of the MQM becoming a part of the ruling coalition in the Centre. PML-N spokesman Muhammad Siddiqul Farooq told this correspondent that they were opposed to the MQM's share in the central government as the party had serious reservations about its past role on certain matters.
"We have already conveyed it to the PPP and we are confident that they would respect our viewpoint in this connection," he maintained. It is pertinent that the MQM has been included in the provincial set-up but it continues to back President Pervez Musharraf and has also made it clear to the PPP that the chances of its supporting an impeachment motion against President Musharraf were almost nil.
Whereas, unlike the PPP, the PML-N is fiercely against President Musharraf's role in the new dispensation. It has repeatedly called for his impeachment. Similarly, notwithstanding pressure from the PPP, the MQM has staunchly defended its Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad in Sindh, the source pointed out. He was flown in from London after the 2002 general election to assume the coveted post. When approached on telephone, a central leader of the MQM and Member of Parliament, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi, confirmed that the PPP had not yet contacted his party to discuss modalities about joining the federal government.
Asked if they would be invited to join the federal cabinet at a later stage, he was not sure and said that as things stood today, the MQM might not be invited to join the central government. "But in politics you are never sure what exactly may happen the very next moment. So, let's sit back and wait," he remarked in a lighter vein. The MQM and the Balochistan National Party-Awami are the only two parties that are part of the present ruling coalition at the provincial level and had their share in the previous government as well.