ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have reportedly “reached an understanding” and decided to work together in the greater interest of the country.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between PPP leadership including chairmen Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari with the MQM.
According to a statement by the PPP, the two parties discussed the current political situation in the country. It said the PPP agreed to all of MQM-P’s points of concern.
Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani and senior leader Sharjeel Memon were also present in the meeting
MQM side was led by convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, senior deputy convener Amir Khan, Wasim Akhtar, Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hasan, Javed Hanif, and Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Amin-ul-Haque.
The development comes amid a no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly as both sides have been gain support of the MQM. The party has seven seats that could prove crucial in attempts to oust the government.
Last week, Prime Minister Imran arrived in Karachi and held meetings with the leadership of MQM and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). He discussed the current political situation with the MQM leaders assured him of full support.
After the visit, MQM leader part Amir Khan had said the party was an ally of the government “but all options are open”. However, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had claimed that the MQM assured full support.
On Sunday, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail visited the MQM headquarters in Bahadurabad to placate the key ally and held an hour-long meeting but no conclusive agreement could be reached.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the PTI had complete trust in its allies including Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), MQM-P, Grand Democratic Alliance and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
