KARACHI: The Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) estranged ally, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in a late night meeting decided to come back to the fold if the Prime Minister Gilani took concrete steps to remove its reservations.
MQM in its Coordination Committee's joint meeting, discussed the strategy in view of the PM's expected visit to Nine Zero Friday. It was decided to rejoin the coalition government and would not let the premier return empty handed.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani arrived in the city on Thursday night and was due to visit the MQM's headquarters Nine-Zero today in a bid to save his crumbling government.
The PPP-led coalition lost its parliamentary majority after the separation of the Muttahida and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) from it.
After announcing the withdrawal of the increase in petroleum prices, the PPP government is hoping that the MQM will review its decision of sitting on the opposition benches.
Gilani was expected to make some important announcements at the MQM headquarters, sources said.
The MQM has 25 seats in the National Assembly and six seats in the Senate. The PM will achieve an important milestone if he succeeds to win back the party's support.
The PPP has already geared up its efforts to save its government at the Centre as Interior Minister Rehman Malik has been in touch with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan to remove the MQM's reservations.
The sources said that Malik had been making calls to Altaf Hussain from the Governor House, but all such contacts were being kept secret.
The two-member committee comprising Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Rehman Malik constituted by President Asif Ali Zardari to woo the MQM is keeping the president informed about the latest developments.
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