ISLAMABAD: Despite their intense political rivalry in the past, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Friday inked a conditional agreement that the latter would support as a coalition partner to form the PTI-led government at the Centre.

A nine-point agreement was signed by Sindh PTI president Arif Alvi and MQM-P coordination committee member Faisal Sabzwari at Banigala.

Surprisingly, some of the demands made by the MQM did not fall within the PTI-led federal government domain but in the purview of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government in Sindh.

Review of Karachi operation, direct fiscal package for city are among key points of agreement

Before signing the agreement, the MQM-P with the strength of six seats in the new National Assembly had announced its decision to support the PTI for the formation of the federal government.

Claiming that it had a simple majority in the 342-seat lower house of parliament by securing over 172 seats including the seats of its allies, the PTI declared that it was in a comfortable position to form its government.

Later in a press talk, MQM-P chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the agreement was “constitutional” and “a democratic necessity”.

The PTI promised to extend its support to the MQM in resolution of problems it faced in Sindh and at the Centre.

The PTI announced that a special federal package would be announced for Karachi, with an emphasis on the provision of water for its residents.

The parties agreed that Sindh police reforms would be implemented, a university would be established in Hyderabad, and the constituencies identified by the MQM-P would be audited.

PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen said they would struggle for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-like police reforms in Sindh. He said his party would also support the MQM-P on its demand for a strong local government system in Sindh.

MQM-P chief Khalid Maqbool said he visited Banigala on the invitation of PTI chairman Imran Khan. “Powers should be devolved to the local level. All the agreed points were according to the Constitution and the need of the country,” he said.

The agreement would strengthen democracy in the country, he said, adding that the issue of census was very important for the MQM-P. According to the deal, recommendations of Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Karachi population census would be implemented, while the PTI

will also favour a petition filed in the Supreme Court with regard to local bodies system in Sindh.

The PTI-MQM deal also called for “review of Karachi operation” in consultation with all the stakeholders, besides “meritorious appointments” on all posts. “The Karachi operation shall be reviewed in totality and in consultation with all stakeholders,” it stated. The parties resolved to make merit-based appointments.

The agreement read that the federal government would provide a “direct financial package” for the neglected “urban centres of Sindh” including Karachi.

The PTI assured the MQM that police would be depoliticised through reforms and ensure merit in recruitment.

According to the deal, election audit would take place of any of the constituencies pointed out by the MQM-P. It was also decided that an international standard university would be established in Hyderabad.

Other parties that won NA seats and announced their support for the PTI include Pakistan Muslim League-Q with four seats; Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) with two seats; Balochistan Awami Party with four seats; Awami Muslim League and Jamhoori Watan Party with one seat each.

Besides, nine independent candidates who have joined the PTI are Sanaullah Musti Khel, Basit Bukhari, Saleh Muhammad Khan, Fakhar Imam, Mohammad Amjad Farooq, Abdul Ghafar Wattoo, Asim Nazir, Shabbir Qureshi and Ali Mohammad Mehr.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018