KARACHI, Dec 24: Certain political and business circles have not yet reconciled with the proposal to appoint the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s acting convener, Dr Ishratul Ibad, as governor of Sindh.
Dr Ibad, who was reinstated in the party’s coordination committee by the party chief Altaf Hussain on Nov 8, is likely to arrive in the city on Dec 27, according to the MQM sources.
However, amid reports of difficulties in sorting out the problems pertaining to the federal and provincial portfolios as demanded by the MQM, Dr Ibad, who met Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali on Tuesday, categorically denied any differences over ministries between the two sides.
“We talked about strong coordination and prevention of differences and misunderstandings. We talked in broader terms about the problems being faced by the people of the province. I reassured the prime minister of the party’s full support, which was equally reciprocated by him,” Dr Ibad said.
About a precise date for the issuance of a notification for his appointment as governor, he said: “it is the President’s prerogative.”
Political observers, however, insist on some hiccups in this regard saying that he emerged controversial even before his appointment and that certain nationalist leaders in Sindh had vowed to observe a day of protest on the day Ishratul Ibad took over as governor.
There are reports that reservations have also been expressed by the Establishment over the MQM’s demand for six ministries, equivalent to that of PPP turncoats at the centre. Reports suggest that the MQM has demanded portfolios of Communications, Housing and Works, Health and the Deputy Interior Minister in the federal cabinet.
Observers are of the view that the notification on Mr Ibad’s appointment now depends on the settlement of the portfolios issue, which is creating restiveness in the PML-Q ranks — vocally critical of giving a sizable and important ministries to the PPP turncoats.
Nasreen Jaleel, deputy conveyor of the MQM coordination committee, emphatically denied reports that her party had raised the question of ministries and that differences had cropped up on the issue in the meetings with the President or the prime minister.
“There was no need to raise it, so there is no question of any dispute,” she said.
Sources, however, pointed out that the MQM had linked its support to Premier Jamali, when he would seek a vote of confidence, with the notification of Dr Ibad as Sindh governor. By winning the governor slot, they added, the MQM would automatically gain control on Home and S&GD besides some other departments and thus becoming in a position to dictate its terms to the government.
In the meantime, Jamaat-i-Islami and the PPP have come out with strong reservations over the withdrawal of cases against Mr Ibad saying that the decision had exposed double standards adopted by the regime.
“For them, everything is being reversed... this has exposed the role of the military and agencies,” said the JI’s Naib Nazim, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad. The rulers are pushing the country towards the 1971 scenario, he added.
The PPP’s information secretary, Taj Haider, pointed out that the rulers had agreed to withdraw cases against the MQM men but the withdrawal of false cases against the PPP chairperson and her spouse, despite Supreme Court’s ruling following which two judges of the High Court had to leave, was denied.
The PML-Q sources hope that MMA’s countervailing support may provide them some breathing space. Troubleshooters, nevertheless, still expect that the MQM will eventually moderate its position.
Other coalition partners of the MQM are already perturbed over its demand for the allocation of Home, S&GD and Local Government portfolios in Sindh cabinet fearing that this will result in the MQM’s domination.
