Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are in negotiations to de-seat the opposition leader Khursheed Shah in the National Assembly with the next general elections due in about nine months. MQM-P MNA Ali Raza Abidi told Business Recorder on Monday that his party floated the idea of replacement of the opposition leader after the Karachi situation went from bad to worse due to poor governance and rampant corruption by Pakistan Peoples' Party government in the province.
"It is in our interest to change the opposition leader in National Assembly and we are in touch with senior PTI leadership for the purpose," he said. Criticizing Khursheed Shah's performance in National Assembly, he said Shah only pushed his party's interest in the House instead of taking the whole opposition on numerous national issues onboard.
Abidi said Shah's track record in the National Assembly during the last four years had been to provide smooth-sailing to the government on every crucial issue including passage of the budget, important legislation and, most recently, keeping the opposition parties divided in fielding a unanimous candidate for the election of prime minister. According to Abidi if both the parties, PTI and MQM-P, succeed in ousting Khursheed Shah, they will benefit both in the centre and Sindh. "We (MQM-P) have our opposition leader in Sindh Assembly that can be helpful for PTI in installing the caretaker government before the next elections," he said.
He said "PTI will be bound to consult the MQM-P leadership in crucial constitutional appointments such as appointment of chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and above all the caretaker setup would be finalised in consultation with our two parties." The MQM-P MNA also showed optimism that the alliance of his party with the PTI would help streamline the party and rope in disgruntled voters.
"The PPP has almost dismantled the local government system in Sindh and is least interested in resolving problems of the people, especially in Karachi and Hyderabad," he said, adding the alliance between the MQM-P and PTI would also be helpful to put pressure on the PPP. Senator Shibli Faraz of PTI told Business Recorder the alliance between the two parties would go a long way in streamlining some crucial issues.
"We cannot shut our eyes to the muk-muka (wheeling-dealing) between the PPP and PML-N," he said, adding that replacement of the opposition leader was necessary for the appointment of a neutral and credible person as chairman NAB and putting a neutral but vibrant caretaker setup in place. He acknowledged that the PTI could not offer any development project or material support to the MQM-P at that stage, but the relationship could have its long-term benefit for both the parties.