ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan People’s Party expressed unhappiness on Sunday over Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s decision to join Tehrik Minhajul Quran’s Jan 14 long march despite sitting in the ruling coalition.
“We will definitely ask the MQM people why they are joining the rally,” Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told Dawn.
He said that although TMQ chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s march was not against the government even then the MQM should have considered that it was sitting in the government and that it should not become part of “a conspiracy to delay elections and derail democracy in the country”.
He said that if Dr Qadri was really eager for electoral reforms in the country he should file an application with the Election Commission of Pakistan, instead of creating a law and order situation on roads.
“If he wants to bring about a change he should contest elections and win seats to form his own government to meet his agenda,” he said.
The MQM’s decision is believed to be ‘shocking’ for the government especially when general elections are approaching fast and political parties are engaging themselves in making new alliances to win the polls.
The MQM’s Rabita Committee decision to join the rally was announced its leader and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Farooq Sattar in a late night press conference on Sunday.
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Fawad Chaudhry said the MQM decision to join the rally was ‘illogical’ especially when the country was entering into the election phase.
He said the government knew what Dr Qadri wanted by launching his campaign but it (the government) could not understand the intentions of the MQM.
“We know that Dr Qadri wants a caretaker set-up to be formed by the army and judiciary in which he will be the prime minister for two to three years,” he said.
He said Dr Qadri and the MQM had different opinions on the issue of elections because the former wanted to delay them while the latter was of the view that polls should be held on their scheduled time.
“I don’t know that why the MQM decided to join the rally if it has a different point of view,” he said.
Talking about the MQM-PPP alliance in the elections, he said it was obvious that the MQM wanted to contest polls independently without any alliance or seat adjustment formula.