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November 28, 2002
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Thursday
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Ramazan 22, 1423
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‘MQM move not worrisome’
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD Nov 27: The Jamali-led coalition government has no immediate danger of falling apart owing to the withdrawal of support by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, leaders of major political parties told Dawn on Wednesday.
Commenting on the reported MQM’s support withdrawal to the government, the MMA secretary-general, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said: “We have fore-warned them (the ruling PML-Q) that their coalition with the MQM will not be long lasting.”
When asked what role the religio-political alliance, as a strong opposition group, could play to avert the crisis, the Maulana said: “Our doors for political dialogue are open. If they will ask for our cooperation we will definitely consider it at our own meeting.”
PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq said that though the government had no immediate danger of its fall, it was highly embarrassing that it lost the vital support of an important ally.
HE SAID: “One can expect that the government can muster necessary support for its sustenance till the time of taking vote of confidence by the prime minister.”
He, however, said that a constant threat by the vulnerable allies would continue to hover over the most fragile government.
PPP acting secretary-general Mian Raza Rabbani said: “The withdrawal of the MQM’s support means the government has lost the single-vote majority in the House.”
He demanded summoning of the National Assembly session immediately to show the majority support for Jamali. Parting of ways by 17 MNAs in the overall single-vote majority, he said, meant a lot to the government.
Mr Rabbani said: “It clearly demonstrates that this government no more commands majority in the House.”
When asked whether his party would requisition the House if the government failed to do so, the PPP leader said that it was premature to say anything about it.
PML-Q parliamentary leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain dismissed the fears that the Jamali-led coalition government would crumble.
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