KARACHI, 10 January 2006 — An ally party of the ruling coalition of Pakistan has withdrawn a threat to quit the government over a military crackdown in troubled Balochistan province following an assurance army action would cease. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Sunday threatened to pull out of the government on Jan. 14, if it did not stop a military operation in Balochistan by Jan. 13. The party, an important coalition partner in the southern province of Sindh and in the central government, urged the government to settle problems with groups seeking autonomy in Balochistan through negotiations. Hours after the ultimatum, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz telephoned MQM leaders and told them military operations in Balochistan would soon end, said Salahuddin Haider, Sindh government spokesman.
