KARACHI: The recent understanding between two major opposition parties in Sindh – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) – against the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party progressed further on Saturday when the two sides vowed to continue their partnership and form a coalition government in the province after the upcoming general elections.

However, the two parties have so far failed to finalise names of their consensus candidates for the office of caretaker chief minister.

A delegation of the GDA visited the temporary headquarters of the MQM-P in Bahadurabad and held the second round of talks on the prospects of the caretaker set-up in Sindh, discussed a few names and agreed to hold another round of discussion before reaching any consensus.

The GDA delegation comprising Dr Safdar Abbasi and Sardar Abdul Rahim discussed with MQM-P leaders the post-election scenario in Sindh and the possibilities of their engagements in the future.

“We discussed several issues, among which are obviously the names for the caretaker set-up from our [opposition] side,” senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar told reporters after the meeting. “We have decided not to share any name until we reach any consensus decision.”

Accompanied by GDA delegates and other party leaders, he continued: “We also decided to keep our partnership going in the future, and for that we have principally agreed to engage with each other again for formation of the next government in Sindh after the elections. We hope GDA and MQM-P will form the next provincial government.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Abbasi called it a “good thing” that the two sides had agreed to continue talks without any deadlock and disagreement.

Their consensus position against the PPP, he said, had further strengthened their ties for the future politics of Sindh. “The people of Sindh, from Kashmore to Karachi, have suffered due to corruption and bad governance of the PPP,” he said. “Karachi and other parts of Sindh have been ruined. The 15 years of PPP rule have proved disastrous. It’s high time for the forces who want peace and prosperity in Sindh to join hands.”

Published in Dawn, Aug 6th, 2023