The Hindu : MQM decides to sit in Opposition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 28, 2002

International

International

MQM decides to sit in Opposition

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Nov. 27. The four-day-old Jamali Government in Pakistan suffered its first setback today, when the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) decided to sit in the `Opposition' in the National Assembly and reduce the new Government to a minority. The MQM chose to reverse its earlier decision of sitting on the Treasury benches, without being part of the Government, on the plea that the Government has failed to implement its promise of abolition of `no go areas' in Karachi.

Among others, it was the support of the 17-member strong MQM in the Assembly, that helped Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali to scrape through by a one vote majority in the House. This, of course, does not immediately pose a threat to the Jamali Government, as under the Pakistan Law, Mr. Jamali is required to demonstrate his majority on the floor of the House within 60 days from the date of his election — November 21.

The MQM's decision has not surprised political observers. It is essentially seen as `bargaining tactics' of the MQM to oust its rival faction from the metro city, and more importantly force the pro-Musharraf parties to allow it head the Provincial Government in Sindh.

Significantly, while announcing its decision to sit in the Opposition, the senior MQM leader, Farooq Sattar, made it a point to appeal to the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to ensure that his promise on abolition of the `no go areas' in Karachi was implemented in letter and spirit.

The abolition of the `no go areas' has been the long-standing demand of the MQM. These are areas in the city under the occupation of the rival faction of the MQM, Mohajir Quami Movement (Haquiqi), since 1992. It is believed that the rival faction was created by the Pakistani intelligence agencies to counter the MQM, when its cadres went `berserk'.

Hours before the election to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly on November 19, the MQM announced its decision to support the nominee of the pro-Musharraf alliance. It was preceded by an announcement by the Musharraf Government that the authorities in the Sindh Province had been directed to take steps for abolition of `no go areas'.

The next day, the leaders of the MQM visited some of the so-called `no go areas' with great fanfare, as personnel of the Sindh Rangers and police evicted supporters of its rival faction. The leadership of the rival faction went underground and appealed to the Opposition parties to take up the issue on all available fora. Ironically, the lone member of the rival MQM in the National Assembly voted in favour of Mr. Jamali.

Mr. Sattar told a news conference in Karachi that the Government had failed to deliver on its promise to `liberate' the `no go areas' and demanded imposition of the writ of the law in these areas.

The immediate implication of the decision of the MQM would be on the formation of the government in the Sindh Province.

While the Benazir party is the single largest party in the 160-member State Assembly with 61 members, the MQM has over 45 members. The pro-Musharraf parties are hoping to form a government with the help of the MQM and dissidents of the Benazir party.

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MQM decides to sit in Opposition