HYDERABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) senior deputy convener Amir Khan has said it is now becoming a burden for his party to remain an ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government. He was commenting on the unprecedented inflation and price hike in the country being attributed to PTI government’s policies.

Speaking to local reporters at a Milad programme here on Thursday night, he said his party was part of the coalition at the Centre out of compulsions. “We have certain problems and that’s why we are in government,” he said, and observed the people now could not have even ‘one square meal a day’. He also apprehended that a gas crisis was looming large, this month or the next month. The fuel prices had already been increased and US dollar’s flight had gone beyond government’s control, he added.

“Unfortunately when these [price hike] decisions are taken, MQM-P is not consulted,” he said, and pledged that his party would certainly register its reservations with the government also issue statements that the decisions were not acceptable.

“No policy has benefited the masses in Pakistan ... perhaps we are now no longer in a position to continue to be part of the government ... we may eventually take a decision to call it a day ... alliance with the PTI has become a burden. We are no longer in a position to carry this burden ... but a decision is to be taken by the party [MQM-P] and not by me alone,” he said.

Amir Khan says his party is not consulted on decisions regarding price hike

Reconciliation with party factions

Amir Khan said that everyone would appreciate the recent statement of former governor and senior MQM leader Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan calling for reconciliation among different factions of the party. “But everyone will have to keep his ego aside and sit on the table. He said everyone would be accepted with dignity and honour.

“We tell all our colleagues to strengthen it [MQM-P] and return with dignity and honour; our doors are open to everyone and we will accept all,” he said.

He said anyone who wanted to join MQM-P should come and work accordingly, “considering the excesses being committed against residents of urban centres, where the community is being pushed against the wall”.

He revealed that MQM-P representatives had met former Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leaders Dr Saghir Ahmed and Wasim Aftab several a times for talks “but everything cannot be disclosed to the media”.

“Setting preconditions by anyone creates difficulties for MQM-P.

Let’s sit and work together but without attaching any preconditions,” he said.

“... if you say what position is going to be offered to you, then it certainly creates a problem for us. If you are interested in working for people’s welfare then keep your ‘personality’ aside,” he said.

The MQM-P senior deputy convener pointed out that his party did not have a level-playing field in politics. “Our offices are still closed and around 90 workers remain missing for the past six years,” he said. He said his party was facing a financial crisis as its supporters were restrained from offering financial assistance to it. “Finances play an important role in elections,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2021