Daily Times

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will not be able to form its government in the centre without Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), says senior MQM-P leader Faisal Sabzwari.

Commenting on the party’s negotiations with PTI amid tensions in the wake of PTI Karachi president Firdous Shamim Naqvi’s recent remarks, Sabzwari says, “We lent our support to the PTI because the PPP has always disappointed the people of Sindh.”

He says that such statements continue to come out of the PTI ranks, ‘it’ll be difficult to work together in future’.

Earlier, the PTI Karachi president had maintained that the alliance with MQM-P was out of compulsion. He said, “MQM-P lost election due to Mayor Waseem Akhtar adding that the MQM did not accomplish the promises made to the nation.”

Afterwards, PTI’s central and provincial leadership came to the rescue and attempted to calm tempers and control damage done by Naqvi’s remarks. Naeemul Haq maintained that Naqvi’s statement was his personal opinion. He said, “We have shaken hands with MQM-P for the purpose of our national interest. Naqvi made a misleading statement and the party is now sticking to the agreement with the MQM.”

The party’s information secretary further said that chairperson Imran Khan would soon call Naqvi and ask him to explain his statement.

PTI’s Imran Ismail also issued a statement, noting that the ‘new relationship is purposed to develop Pakistan’, and he urged PTI and MQM-P leadership to refrain from making such statements.

Meanwhile, senior leadership of MQM-P are still debating the various aspects of the new relationship. In a statement, Farooq Sattar said that if MQM-P was going to be a part of the PTI-led government, it should at least stay away from ministries. He also questioned the decision of the rabita committee to not include him in the delegation that visited Bani Gala.

On the other hand, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar maintained in a recent statement that MQM-P had no other options but to make a deal with the PTI.

Published in Daily Times, August 7^th 2018.