KARACHI/ISLAMABAD, 29 July 2006 — Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has told Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad not to accept the resignations of ministers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) saying that the issue should be resolved through dialogue.
After months of saber-rattling the coalition partner of Shaukat Aziz government at the federal level and Sindh government headed by Arbab Rahim, the MQM withdrew its ministers both at federal and provincial levels causing an immediate threat to Aziz government.
Four MQM federal ministers Babar Ghauri, Shamim Siddiqui, Safwanullah and Aamir Liaquat tendered their resignations yesterday. “We handed over our resignations to the deputy military secretary to the president at his Camp Office in Rawalpindi today,” Siddiqui, who held portfolio of Communications, said.
“The president had already directed his deputy military secretary Col. Adnan to receive the resignations,” Siddiqui said.
The federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani said that the respective governments had received the MQM ministers’ resignations. He said that Musharraf has directed that these resignations should not be accepted and the matter should be resolved through dialogue.
He added political moves and political pressures were part of the democratic process, and added that after some time, the political situation would be normal again. He said the role of the president has always been positive and he has always worked toward strengthening the democratic set up in the country.
The MQM has submitted the resignations of its ministers, advisers, special assistants and senators to the government, but has decided that its parliamentarians will continue to sit on treasury benches. MQM spokesman Salahuddin Haider said 20 resignations from MQM federal and Sindh Cabinet members were handed over to the Sindh governor and president after a meeting of the party’s coordination committee. Haider said that MQM legislators would continue sitting in the treasury benches and supporting President Musharraf.
Dr. Imran Farooq, convener of the coordination committee, earlier told by phone that the committee had decided to collect the resignations on Wednesday night to protest Sindh Chief Minister Ghulam Arbab Rahim’s refusal to consult the party on important matters.
The MQM’s decision to vacate government offices but to remain a part of the treasury benches has given the provincial government hope that it (MQM) would rejoin the government at any time after the MQM’s complaints are resolved. National Security Council Secretary Tariq Aziz has been entrusted with the task of persuading the MQM to withdraw the resignations of its ministers and defuse the crisis. Latest reports indicate that Tariq Aziz is in communication with the head of MQM, Altaf Hussain, who is living in London.
