MQM parts ways with ruling PPP over Kashmir elections

MQM parts ways with ruling PPP over Kashmir elections

2011-06-28 01:13:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday announced that it parted ways with the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) due to a dispute over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections in Karachi.

According to Ary News television, the MQM cited that the PPP government's "dictatorial and undemocratic" approach prompted its separation from the coalition. MQM's Sindh Governor Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan will immediately resign from his office as well.

"This is not a gradual separation from the government. Our members will immediately quit provincial and federal cabinets to sit in opposition benches in National and Sindh Assembly," Deputy Convenor MQM Farooq Sattar told Ary News.

However, the separation of MQM from the ruling government is not expected to cause a collapse as the PPP has a comfortable majority in parliament. On Sunday, PPP secured a majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly by securing 19 seats.

Sattar refused the elections results alleging that the ruling party threatened MQM to withdraw from one of the two seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly which were won in the last general elections.

"The PPP was unwilling to mend its ways leaving us with no option but to quit the coalition government," Sattar added. "Our resignations are ready and will be sent soon to the authorities."

The MQM party organized protests on Saturday in an attempt to boycott the AJK elections. The rallies took place in Muzaffarabad, Abbottabad and Karachi. On Monday, the party filed a petition against the polls in the Sindh High Court (SHC) declaring them illegal due to government interference in the elections process.

On the other hand, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the AJK elections proved the popularity of the ruling PPP. He added that the current differences between the PPP and MQM represent "the beauty of democracy."

In 2008, the MQM and the PPP, led by President Asif Ali Zardari, formed a coalition government. Earlier this year, MQM left the coalition but rejoined weeks later. MQM has 25 seats in 342-memebr Parliament.

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