KARACHI: The deadlock persists between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM-P) a day after MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced his resignation as federal minister.
A delegation led by Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reforms Asad Umar held a meeting with MQM-P leaders at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad to address their reservations.
The meeting comes a day after MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced his resignation as Federal Minister for Information Technology.
Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman were part of the government delegation. The MQM-P delegation included Amir Khan, Kanwar Naveed Jamil, Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hasan, and Aminul Haque along with Siddiqui.
Addressing media after the meeting, Siddiqui said that there was nothing sensational about his press conference where he announced to resign from the federal cabinet. He reiterated that this party will continue to support the federal government.
He also dismissed rumours that they were negotiating with the government, adding that the meeting today was scheduled. He remained steadfast that it was futile for him to stay in the federal cabinet any longer.
Asad Umar said Khalid Maqbool has not retracted his decision to quit the federal cabinet. He said they apprised the MQM-P leadership of progress on the ongoing federal government-funded projects in Karachi.
He acknowledged that there were several issues that required attention, adding the people of Karachi have been denied their due rights for decades. He said the federal government wished to work with the Sindh government for development of the metropolis.
Asad Umar said the issues would be sorted out during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Karachi visit in the first week of next month where he would inaugurate a few projects.
The meeting comes a day after Siddiqui announced he was resigning from his post as minister for information technology. He expressed his grievances that the ruling party did not fulfill its promises but insisted his party would continue to support the federal government. MQM-P also clarified that Senator Farogh Nasim would retain its portfolio as Minister for Law.
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