Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for formation of new government in the Centre.

The agreement, signed by MQM-P’s Faisal Sabzwari and PTI leader Arif Alvi, was reached following a meeting between the leaders of two parties at Bani Gala.

In exchange for MQM-P’s support for the upcoming federal government, PTI promised that a special federal package will be announced for Karachi, with an emphasis on the provision of water for its residents. The PTI also agreed that Sindh police reforms will be implemented, a university will be established in Hyderabad, and constituencies identified by MQM-P will be audited, according to the contents of the MoU.

As per agreement, recommendations of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) on Karachi population census would be implemented. The PTI will favour a petition filed in the Supreme Court with regard to local government system in Sindh, the MoU read. The agreement also urged for review of Karachi operation; consultation with all the stakeholders; and meritorious appointments on all posts.

Speaking to media, PTI leader Jehangir Tareen confirmed that they had reached an agreement with the MQM-P. “We welcome MQM-P in PTI’s government,” he said. The people of Karachi have rejected two parties because they neglected Karachi, he added.

Taking his turn, MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said they came to Bani Gala on Imran Khan’s invitation. “Whatever is agreed between us is a constitutional requirement and a democratic necessity,” he said, referring to the MoU signed between the two parties. “We have agreed to take the cause of democracy further. The urban centres of Sindh contribute over 80 per cent of the country’s revenue. We have also approached the SC to review the city’s census results. We will also take up the issue of security operation in Karachi to address any injustices,” he said.

The MQM-P leader said the PTI had assured them of its cooperation on the census issue, whereas they also held talks on delimitation of constituencies. “Today, both MQM and PTI have a mandate in Karachi,” Siddiqui said, calling for review of Karachi operation and taking it to a logical end. He further said that a few things needed to be finalised between the two parties, and expressed hope that those would be finalised amicably. The MQM-P convener said senior party leader Farooq Sattar was taken into confidence before the announcement. He added that protests against rigging will, however, continue. The announcement came shortly after an MQM-P delegation met PTI Chairman Imran Khan at Bani Gala, where top leaders Aamir Khan and Faisal Subzwari were also present.

The MQM-P clinched 16 seats in the Sindh Assembly in the July 25 general election, and has six seats in the National Assembly. The PTI had invited the party to join it in the Centre.

A total of eight independent candidates elected to the National Assembly have joined PTI so far, party spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry claimed on Friday.

A total of 13 independents had won seats in the National Assembly during the general elections on July 25.

The number of converts, however, is set to rise as two more independent MNAs-elect are in talks to join the Imran Khan-led party, Chaudhry said.

Other parties that won NA seats and have declared their support for PTI include Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) with four seats; Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) with two seat; Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) with four seats; Awami Muslim League (AML) and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) with one seat each.

Published in Daily Times, August 4^th 2018.