KARACHI, Nov 25: PML (functional) chief Pir Pagara has given a green signal to support the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in its efforts to get the slot of chief minister, senior deputy convener of the MQM’s coordination committee, Dr Farooq Sattar, said on Monday.

He, however, made it clear that if the MQM did not get the slot, then the option would be open for it to sit in the opposition.

In reply to a question, he said that the MQM had sought a working relationship with Pir Pagara and his response was encouraging.

Dr Sattar was talking to newsmen at an iftar dinner hosted by the Association of Builders and Developers. The event turned out to be a major political activity with the participation of a large number of politicians, including the nominee of the GNA for chief ministership, Dr Arbab Rahim; SDA chief Imtiaz Shaikh, Capt Haleem Siddiqi of the PML (QA), MQM’s MNA Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain and MMA’s Maulana Asad Thanvi.

Dr Sattar said the MQM had insisted on having chief minister’s post, because “we consider that the party really deserves it.”

He said there was a possibility of the repetition of centre’s scenario in Sindh. However, the MQM has not accepted ministries in the federal cabinet as yet.

The MQM leader said the decision taken by the MQM had assumed great importance as any government in Sindh would take shape on the decision of the party.

He said the MQM found government’s sincerity in the elimination of “no-go areas.” But it has yet to be seen as how long this sincerity persisted. He said if the government changed its policy towards the “no-go areas”, then the public confidence in sensitive government agencies would diminish and it would cause harm to the national unity.

According to him, the initiative for coalition between the PPP and the MQM was getting weaker. Any coalition between the two parties would have been in the interests of the province, he said, adding that the PPP did not take interest in the process.

“We had asked for an apology from PPP leader Benazir Bhutto for their attitude during the PPP rule in the province. However, they did not give any positive response.”

Dr Arbab Rahim said there were no differences with Pir Pagara. He is our elder and we will get his support.

He said everyone has agreed on his becoming the chief minister of Sindh. “A forward bloc has emerged in the PPP and its members are in contact with us,” he claimed.—APP