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Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's statement, at a meeting of legislators and office-bearers of the People's Party from Hyderabad division, drew an immediate riposte from Altaf Hussain.
The Muttahida chief came out with a warning that his party would consider quitting the ruling coalition if moves were initiated to reverse Hyderabad's bifurcation.
Sources in the PPP, however, quoted the prime minister as saying that the government would consult its allies before taking any decision on the matter.
As soon as the PM's statement was flashed on television channels, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan, who is currently in London, telephoned both the premier and the president, conveying to them the MQM's reservations.
Sources said that the meeting of the MQM coordination committee, which was simultaneously held in Karachi and London, resolved to go to any extent to “resist moves” to change the administrative set-up of Hyderabad.
“We have plainly told the PPP high-ups that our alliance will end the day they impose this unjust decision,” said a member of the MQM coordination committee.
Although there was no mention of the party's future line of action in a statement issued after the meeting on Saturday, the sources said that majority of the participants were of the view that the Muttahida should quit the coalition if the government took a unilateral decision.
Altaf Hussain advised the PM not to take any major decision regarding Sindh without taking the MQM into confidence.
He saw some conspiracy behind “provocative statements” by some PPP leaders and observed that it was an attempt to end the PPP-MQM alliance.
