Muttahida Qaumi Movement Quits government in Sindh
'Pakistan Times' Federal Bureau

KARACHI: Sindh ministers, advisers and special assistants, belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement have submitted their resignations to Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad late on Thursday.

They submitted their resignations personally at the Governor House, sources said, adding that after receiving the resignations, the governor talked to President Pervez Musharraf by telephone and informed him about the latest development.

The sources said the president directed the governor to hold all these resignations till further orders.

Earlier, Muttahida Rabita Committee Convener Imran Farooq ordered all Haq Parast federal and provincial ministers and advisers and special assistants to immediately send in their resignations to the Sindh governor and the president.
Imran Farooq issued these directives while addressing a press conference by telephone at the Khursheed Memorial Hall on Thursday night.

In his second press conference in just two hours, Imran Farooq asked the ministers and advisers to send their resignations immediately after the first press conference ended.

However, Imran Farooq announced that the Muttahida would continue to support all the policies of President Musharraf, which were in the larger interest of the country and the masses. He said by sending the resignations the Muttahida has not joined the opposition, as it will continue to sit on the treasury benches.

Imran Farooq warned that the Muttahida would continue to raise its voice against the Kalabagh dam and the handling of the Balochistan issue, which it feels “are against the interest of the masses”.

He said the Muttahida is a major political party, working for the interest of the masses, but it is being stopped from working for public welfare.

Earlier Imran Farooq announced that the Muttahida had obtained resignations from Haq Parast federal and provincial ministers and advisers and special assistants as the arrangement arrived at with the federal and Sindh governments could not be implemented, and reservations persisted.

He said the decision was taken at the top level without the knowledge of the ministers concerned. He accused the Sindh chief minister of having an indifferent attitude and rejecting summaries sent by Haq Parast ministers, as well as files of development projects.

“These problems were being confronted by the ministers for many months and for their resolution the federal government constituted committees,” he said, adding that the situation went from bad to worse after which a special meeting of the Rabita committee was convened last night and some decisions were taken.

Line of Action

He said for the approval of these decisions a meeting of the committee was also held in Pakistan, which decided to obtain resignations from minister, advisers and special assistants.

However, resignations from the Muttahida MNAs, MPAs and senators were not sought, he said, adding that the future line of action would be decided after these resignations.

Replying to a question, he said this action was not taken after President Musharraf gave a statement in favour of the Sindh chief minister during his recent visit to Karachi nor did it have any connection with the resignations of ARD assembly members.

“The opposition’s move is aimed at capturing power, while the Haq Parasts’ decision is based on principles and in the larger interest of masses as well as development and prosperity of the country.”

He said, however, after these resignations “we have not set any deadline. He said under the prevailing situation, some important personalities of the government have contacted the Muttahida.

He said if the Rabita Committee deemed it fit then they would also seek resignation from even the Sindh governor.

However, he ruled out any such possibility for the time being. Imran Farooq said it has always been the demand of the coalition government that decisions taken should have the mutual consent, but here the situation was totally different.

He said the Muttahida is also a big political party besides being a coalition partner of the government from which people have a lot of expectations. He said what was the use of being in the government, when we are not able to serve the people.

A foreign news agency report says that Muttahida MNA Dr Farooq Sattar said the Haq Parast ministers in the Sindh and central cabinets have handed in their resignations to the governor and President Gen Pervez Musharraf, respectively.

“Our demand is for the removal of the chief minister. In the present circumstances we cannot work with the chief minister,” Dr Farooq Sattar said, adding that Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim was “interfering” with the work of Haq Parast ministers in Sindh.

Aziz contacts Ebad

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz phoned Sindh Governor Ishrat-ul-Ebad to discuss matters regarding MQM's reservations.

Credible sources say that the premier contacted Ebad on teleohone and discussed with him the current political crisis at federal and provincial level.
Ebad informed him about MQM's stance and reservations.

Besides the premier, sources said, high level government officials and PML leadership were in also contact with Mutahidda's leadership to overcome the present political crisis.

Yet, another report says that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is to fly to Karachi early in the morning to finish off persisting political turmoil, sources said.

According to details, the premier will endeavour to put an end to differences among coalition parties of the joint government of Sindh province.

During his two-days official visit, the prime minister is likely to meet Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and other Sindh Assembly members.

Meanwhile, he will also inaugurate an under-sea-cable and attend different key meetings and ceremonies.

President General Pervez Musharraf has told Dr Ishratul Ebad not to accept resignations filed by ministers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), sources concluded.

Update

And a latest report says that Shamim Siddiqui handed over resignations of four Muttahida ministers in the federal cabinet to president’s deputy military secretary today.

Siddiqui, a Muttahida’s minister in federal government, went to the president’s camp office in Rawalpindi on Friday and submitted his and three colleagues’ resignations including Babar Khan Ghouri, Syed Safwanallah and Dr. Amir Liaquat Hussain.

“President had already directed his deputy military secretary Col. Adnan to receive the resignations”, Shamim Siddiqui said.

“The MQM minister when reached at the president’s camp office, President Musharraf was presiding over a high level meeting. The president didn’t received resignations by himself”, a top government source said.

Earlier, on his arrival at Islamabad Airport from Karachi talking with newsmen Shamim Siddiqui said that the president should have played his role when he was constantly being informed about the situation.

President’s Secretariat and his staff deliberately strengthened bureaucrats in Muttahida’s ministries, he alleged.

Siddiqui said that MQM wouldn’t get back the resignations. He said that his party wouldn’t side with the opposition in their no-trust move against the prime minister.

He said that his party has not decided to sit on opposition benches in the parliament.●