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KARACHI,
Jan 2: Immediately after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement
announced its decision to withdraw its parliamentary support
for the politically besieged Pakistan People`s Party
government at the centre, its London-based chief Altaf
Hussain called PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and
Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, PML-F chief Pir Pagara and Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi to brief
them on his party`s decision and “discuss the overall
political situation”.
The MQM`s decision was taken at an emergency meeting of its
coordination
committee which said that the party was no more in a
position to support the federal government in the wake of
the massive increase in the prices of petroleum products.
The meeting held simultaneously in London and Karachi
decided that MQM legislators would sit on |
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opposition
benches in the National Assembly and Senate
However, the committee took no decision about the stance it
would take in the event of a no-confidence motion moved
against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who lost majority
in parliament.
The MQM appears to be not interested in coming up with such
a motion in the National Assembly. It strongly believes that
the PML-N will indirectly support Mr Gilani and will not
table a no-confidence motion.
According to the coordination committee`s decision, MQM`s 25
MNAs and six senators will apply to the speaker of the
National Assembly and the Senate chairman to allot them
seats on the opposition benches.
MQM leader Faisal Subzwari told Dawn that the matter of
no-confidence motion had not come under discussion at
Sunday`s meeting.
A decision about quitting the Sindh government would be
taken later, he added.
A week ago, the MQM quit the federal cabinet by sending
resignations of its two ministers. But the party said at
that time that it would continue to sit on the treasury
benches and support the government. The resignation of its
ministers has not yet been accepted.
Well-placed sources in the MQM said its leadership was
perturbed over the way the PPP was dealing with the party
after it decided to quit the government at the centre.
They said that eyebrows had been raised over the role being
played by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and some leaders
of the MQM believed that he should not be part of any
negotiations with the PPP.
They said the MQM had not demanded the deferment of a bill
for reviving the commissionerate system in Sindh or
appointment of a new district coordination officer in
Karachi.
“Does the PPP leadership think that our two federal
ministers had resigned just for the postponement of the bill
or appointment of Mohammad Hussain Syed as the Karachi DCO?”
an MQM leader asked.
“The PPP knows everything we want and just because of this
we had not set up any committee to hold negotiations with
them. But it appears that they are playing with us.”
A statement issued after the coordination committee meeting
said the fresh increase in prices of POL products was unjust
and tantamount to cruelty. “While an increase in oil prices
in the international market is being cited as a reason for
increasing POL prices, no effort is being made to improve
the economic condition of the country by bringing the
agricultural income of feudal lords and large estates under
the tax net and plugging unbridled corruption.
“Rich people have been virtually exempted from paying tax
and the salaried class is facing an ever increasing tax
burden,” it said.
“The MQM is a political party that takes important decisions
keeping in view the aspirations of the people. Its
representatives feel that they are accountable before the
public as they live in their midst.
“Pressure is mounting on the elected representatives because
of the increase in POL prices.
“In this situation, the MQM considers it a travesty to sit
on the treasury benches and hence we will sit on the
opposition benches in the Senate and National Assembly.
“Nonetheless we will continue to support positive steps of
the government and openly oppose all the measures that go
against the interest of the people.”
The meeting demanded an immediate withdrawal of the increase
in prices of petroleum products. “Unjust taxation should be
stopped forthwith and the agricultural income of feudal
lords should be taxed and corruption stopped.” |
