April 14, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1429

KARACHI, April 13: The Pakistan People’s Party considers the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s decision to sit on the opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly “not only surprising, but shocking.”

Talking to Dawn on Sunday, Pir Mazharul Haq, the PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly and a senior minister in the provincial cabinet, said that up till Saturday night, deliberations were continuing with the MQM and the announcement by the party on Sunday evening to join the opposition had caught the PPP by surprise.

He said it appeared the MQM’s decision came about over not getting the ministries of their choice.

“Our delegations had met last night and we even dined together. They had given us a proposal, and we had given them a counter-proposal. We had indicated to them our reservations about their relationship with ‘others’. We were actually waiting for their call,” he said.

When asked if by ‘others’ he meant Arbab Rahim and the PML-Q, Pir Mazhar applied in the affirmative.

As for the MQM’s qualms about Shoaib Suddle’s appointment as inspector-general of Sindh, Pir Mazhar said that during their deliberations, the MQM seemed fine with the choice.

“Shoaib Suddle is an officer. He’s a bureaucrat. He’s a well-reputed and clean man. Dr Zulfiqar Mirza had convinced them (the MQM). They were more than satisfied,” he claimed.

“We told them they had to decide who they wanted to sit with. They are the ones who appeared to be non-serious. We, too, have coalition partners, and they have their reservations. We asked them what kind of message the April 9 incident sent. We also reminded them that Arbab Rahim had, in the past, made some uncharitable remarks about the MQM,” added Pir Mazhar.

However, he indicated that even after this decision, the doors were open for the MQM.

“We are very serious about the reconciliation process. We even want to take along the parties that are not in the assembly. We are under no compulsion.

It would have been better if the MQM would have stayed with us. I would advise them, in the larger interest of Sindh, that reconciliation is more important than ministries. We want to promote brotherhood. We will still try. Nothing is final in politics,” said the Pir.