KARACHI: After weeks long negotiations with the government and opposition leaders, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has decided to side with opposition on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.
Addressing the media in Islamabad along with opposition leaders, MQM-P Head Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui emphasized that every clause of the agreement between his party and opposition is for the benefit of the people.
He said that MQM-P chose national interest over personal interest.
Read more: Governor Sindh rushes to MQM-P after it decides to support no-trust motion
He expressed hope that the ‘new change’ will also benefit the people of Pakistan while reiterating that the deal between MQM-P and joint opposition has nothing to do with the no-confidence motion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif said it is a historical day and the beginning of a new journey.
He said all pending matters with MQM-P were settled in 20 minutes. He demanded PM Imran set a new precedent by stepping down after he has lost the majority.
Further, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto thanked MQM-P for siding with the opposition.
He asserted that the agreement between PPP and MQM-P is not for the sake of no-confidence motion but the betterment of Karachi.
Bilawal said he wished MQM-P’s coalition in Sindh even before the latest development. He reiterated that the general elections of 2018 were a conspiracy against the country and Karachi suffered the most because of it.
He said the prime minister has lost the majority after different coalition partners have parted ways with the government.
Bilawal said the prime minister is left with no option but to resign or else he would be ousted in the no-confidence voting soon.
Jamiat-e-Ulema (JUI-F) Chief Fazlur Rehman said that there is still time for the lawmakers to join the opposition parties against the prime minister.
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) MNA Khalid Magsi said they want an ‘Awami Pakistan’ instead of ‘naya’ or ‘purana’ Pakistan.
MQM-P quits federal cabinet
The MQM-P federal ministers – Aminul Haq and Farogh Naseem – have resigned from the federal cabinet. The resignations have been accepted.
The party’s coordination committee – Rabita Committee – endorsed the agreement draft with the opposition parties finalized on Wednesday early morning. The coordination committee have decided to accept the decision of the party leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
According to the agreement, the MQM-P will be given two federal ministries, while it will be accommodated as according to its electoral capacity in the province.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) are guarantors of the agreement.
With the MQM-P’s unexpected attack on Imran Khan before the no-confidence motion, the government is now supported by only 164 members of Parliament. Meanwhile, the unified opposition has grown to 177 members.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also confirmed yesterday that the united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. He tweeted: “Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan.”
