The resignations of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ministers and advisers from the Sindh government have created ripples among the diplomatic corps in Karachi as they were seen making queries on Friday from newsmen about the future and stability of the coalition governments in the province and at the Centre.
Ministers, advisers and special assistants in the Sindh coalition government on Thursday submitted their resignations to the MQM Rabita committee as protest against their "principled disagreement" with Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on a number of public interest issues.
Though President Pervez Musharraf is reported to have intervened in the matter and indications are of an amicable settlement between the fighting parties, the diplomats based in Karachi expressed their concern over their investments and future investment plans. Many of the companies involved in development projects and whose interests are being protected at the diplomatic levels wanted to know how much time would it take to resolve differences between the groups. Talking to Business Recorder, a diplomat said that the worsening situation would slow down ongoing development work.
Those companies, which are involved in developing infrastructure in the country, were seen worried about the time that might be needed to settle issues. They said that the worsening of the situation was likely to create law and order situation, and referred to killings of foreigners at different places in Pakistan.
Political circles take the entire situation as political manoeuvring to bargain on issues that are other than those discussed at the press conference at Nine Zero.
There is another group that thinks that the President should look into employment problems as educated jobless people were facing difficulties. "The ministers and advisers have rightly protested on the delays in the disposals of summaries put up by the MQM ministers and advisers." They said that the Chief Minister should realise the situation and yield a little bit to accommodate his coalition partners.
The sources, close to the Chief Minister House, said that the situation was not as bad as had been conveyed to people. There was an element of exaggeration in the move and should be corrected, they added. They said that the Chief Minister was always available for discussion and open to suggestions for the betterment of those to whom he had to serve along with his coalition partners.