ISLAMABAD: Terming the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s decision to sit on opposition benches a “travesty of the Constitution’s spirit”, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said here on Sunday that he would not hold consultations with the MQM on the issue of caretaker set-up.

“All opposition parties unanimously reject the MQM as a genuine opposition. There is no problem at the federal level because as leader of the opposition, I will neither consult the MQM on the issue of caretaker prime minister nor give them any representation in the parliamentary committee,” Chaudhry Nisar said at a news conference a day after the MQM quit the federal and provincial governments.

The MQM’s decision has come at a time when the national and provincial assemblies will complete their tenure in a few weeks and the office of the leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly has gained importance because of its role in the process of finalising a caretaker set-up in the province.

Keeping in view the MQM’s strength in the provincial assembly it would easily get one of its MPAs notified as leader of the opposition.

Criticising the MQM for quitting the treasury benches after having enjoyed the perks and privileges for four years and 11 months, Chaudhry Nisar said that PML-N president Nawaz Sharif would meet PML-F chief Pir Pagara and leaders of about 11 parties in Sindh on Feb 23 to work out a line of action in the wake of what he described as the “latest MQM somersault”.

The PML-N leader also hinted at becoming a party in proceeding on a petition filed by the PML-F on non-appointment of the leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly for five years. But he said the party had so far left this option open and any decision in this regard would be taken after consultations with other parties representing the people of Sindh.

About the timing of the MQM’s decision, he said it was announced when the court had already given 10 days to the Sindh government to appoint an opposition leader.

“The MQM wants to occupy the space of the opposition through deception at a time when elections are near,” he said, adding that the PML-N would not allow it “to commit a daylight robbery”.

Replying to a question, Chaudhry Nisar claimed that he had almost completed consultations with opposition parties on possible names for the post of caretaker prime minister and it would be made public at an appropriate time. He also said that the PML-N wanted elections for the national and provincial assemblies on the same day, but made it clear that the Punjab Assembly would be dissolved before time only if the government came up with a commitment to hold polls within 60 days.