KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday visited the temporary head office of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and vowed that the promises made with the part leaders will be fulfilled.
PM Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with MQM-P leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Amir Khan, Amin-ul-Haq, Farogh Naseem, Nasreen Jalil and others during his day-long visit to Karachi. The prime minister thanked MQM-P for supporting opposition parties in the no-confidence motion against the former premier and casting their votes.
He vowed that the promises made with the MQM-P leaders will be fulfilled. He urged coordinated efforts between the Centre and the province for the development of Sindh.
He also assured MQM-P of its inclusion in the consultative process for Sindh development. He expressed hopes that MQM-P will continue to support the government in the upcoming elections for the NA speaker.
MQM-P convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that he hopes resolution of issues in Karachi and urban parts of the Sindh. The premier said that they wanted to establish a long-term working relationship with MQM-P.
MQM-P opts out of federal cabinet
It was earlier reported MQM-P has decided not to be part of the new federal cabinet led by Shehbaz Sharif and instead to extend its support to the broad-based government from the outside.
Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said his party had discussed the formation of the new cabinet with the leaders of coalition partners in detail and conveyed the decision to the prime minister.
He said the MQM-P is more interested in the implementation of the commitments made by the coalition partners for the well-being of Karachi and other areas of the province.
He did not comment on former Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar’s remarks where he took exception to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for not mentioning commitments with the MQM-P in his maiden speech as the premier in the National Assembly.
According to reports, MQM-P was offered two posts in the federal government, Governor of Sindh and about half a dozen slots in the Sindh cabinet beside municipal charges of three big cities including Karachi mayorship but no decision has been taken.
