KARACHI, Nov 27: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement in yet another U-turn on Wednesday withdrew its support to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali’s fragile coalition government and decided to sit on the opposition benches in the national and Sindh assemblies.
The decision was announced by the deputy convener of the MQM, Dr Farooq Sattar, at a news conference at Nine Zero, barely 36 hours after he had mustered Pir Pagara’s support for the party candidate, Syed Sardar Ahmad, for the top slot in Sindh.
The MQM decision was aimed at registering its protest against the reversal the Muttahida had to face from the so-called no-go areas at the hands of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi), allegedly enjoying the backing of a powerful section of the establishment.
“We have decided to sit on the opposition benches in the national and provincial assemblies and after taking oath we will abstain from voting for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and chief minister in the Sindh Assembly,” Dr Sattar said, alleging that despite President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s assurances and directives, a strong section of the establishment was supporting the Haqiqi.
“We believe that when writ of the government is not accepted, then it can neither make democratic dispensation workable and strong, nor it can solve people’s problems. Therefore, for the sake of democratic values, we have decided to sit on the opposition benches and we will strive to get people’s problems solved,” Dr Sattar said.
Asked whether the MQM had visualized any timeframe for reversing its decision, he said: “It is not possible until writ of Gen Pervez Musharraf and Mir Zafarullah Jamali becomes obvious”.
Asked when the MQM was negotiating with the establishment itself then which section of that ruling elite was he criticizing for backing the Haqiqi, Dr Sattar said: “We now firmly believe that there is a strong element which is not allowing Pervez Musharraf’s writ to become effective”.
He did not identify the group but indicated at some differing perceptions with the ruling power structure.
The MQM decision has further complicated political scenario in the province. The decision gave Mr Jamali’s camp the jitters, though he has been assured by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal that it would not allow his government to fall. Mr Jamali is required to seek a vote of confidence within 60 days and analysts believe that the MQM will mend fences much before that.
The MQM decision has again brought the People’s Party Parliamentarians back in the power game as Pir Pagara, who on Tuesday had agreed to support the MQM candidate for the chief ministership, has decided to consider the PPP’s option after the MQM changed its mind without consulting him.
When Dr Sattar was suggested by a questioner that instead of sitting in the opposition what was the harm in forming a coalition with the PPP in Sindh, Dr Sattar said they didn’t see any prospects for that as the coalition would not be independent to take decisions.
He said the MQM had also examined the coalition-with-PPP option before it swore not to aspire for the top slot.
Asked did he visualize the Governor’s rule if none of the parties or groups appeared able to form a government in the province following the MQM’s decision, Dr Sattar said “the onus will be on those who are responsible for the creation of this situation.”
Reading from a text, Dr Sattar said that on Nov 8 Gen Musharraf had directed the provincial government and the law enforcement agencies to ensure the rehabilitation of 1200 families in their Haqiqi-dominated abode, which the MQM describes as the “no-go areas”.
He said that after assurances from Gen Musharraf’s Principal Secretary, Tariq Aziz; Gen Ehtesham Zamir, and the Director-General of Rangers, and other officials, on Nov 19 some of the families were taken to those areas and were temporarily lodged in camps.
This was met with resistance by the Haqiqi but the government officials assured the Muttahida of protection.
He said that during the period when the Muttahida workers were exposed to threats, the party voted for the government’s Speaker, Deputy Speaker and PM to facilitate democratic dispensation.
Dr Sattar alleged that Haqiqi’s armed activists had planned bloodbath of the Muttahida supporters in the no-go areas. In the face of the administrations’s failure to check the armed activists, the Muttahida pulled back its supporters to avert any untoward situation.
He said the no-go areas could not be removed despite repeated assurances by Gen Musharraf and other government functionaries.
He said that in view of this situation the “Muttahida is constrained to believe that the writ of Gen Musharraf and his close associates has failed against that powerful group within the establishment which had propped up such political parties in the recent elections who are not sincere with people”.
Dr Sattar alleged that the same group in the establishment which had abetted the Haqiqi for the past 11 years, was instrumental now.
ALTAF HUSSAIN: Before the news conference, MQM chief Altaf Hussain addressed workers by telephone during which he directed them to be “ready for action” after Eid.
Sources said he also warned those who were thinking of changing loyalties.
Some analysts were of the view that the MQM might have used the trick to compel the regime to force the GNA to support its candidate. But the other view is that the MQM also pulled back because it was not prepared to be exposed to opposition by heading the government.