Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Friday announced its support to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Center after a written memorandum of understanding (MoU) was reached between the parties. A delegation of the MQM-P led by its convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui held a detailed meeting with PTI leadership at Banigala and discussed numerous matters pertaining to urban Sindh.
Later, speaking to media persons, PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen said that his party's government would announce a special financial package for Karachi and Hyderabad to address issues like sewerage, water, transportation and education. He said the PTI has also agreed to the MQM-P demand to strive for a cogent local government system in urban Sindh and police reforms, though they are provincial subjects.
Tareen said the urban centers of Sindh have been neglected in the past and the PTI government would try its level best to come up to the expectations of the people as they have voted for both PTI and MQM-P in Karachi. He said that both PTI and MQM-P have signed a 9-point MoU to reach the agreement. MQM-P Convener Siddiqui said that Karachi generates around 65 to 70 percent of the total revenue of the country but gets "nothing in return". He said the PTI has promised to strive for devolution of power in Sindh through a robust local government system.
He said the MQM-P will support the PTI at the Center to strengthen democracy, adding that there are still some issues which need to be settled with the PTI including inclusion of the MQM-P members in the federal cabinet. To a question, he said the MQM-P has reservations over election results and the PTI assured it of full support in opening the constituencies for a vote recount. The MQM-P won 6 seats of the National Assembly in the elections and is likely to get one reserved seat for women, leading its total strength to 7 in the Lower House.
Pakistan Peoples Party's leader Farhatullah Babar told Business Recorder that it would be difficult for his party to include the MQM-P in Sindh government if it joins hands with PTI in the Center. Babar said that the PPP did not start any talk with MQM-P for formation of Sindh government, adding that his party's numbers are considerable for formation of government in Sindh and they do not need a coalition partner.
To a question, he said the PPP would sit on opposition benches in the National Assembly and would never join the federal government or lend any support to the PTI as his party has already termed the July 25 elections massively rigged.
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