A delegation of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) will visit Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) headquarters on Thursday, citing sources, local media reported. The former ruling party is to discuss about the available options to deal with the contemporary political situation in Pakistan, claim sources.
According to details, a delegation of PML-N led by its senior vice president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will meet MQM-P leadership on Thursday, 4:00 pm. The delegation members will be comprised of PML-N senior leaders including Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and other leaders.
Top members of PML-N to meet MQM-P in Karachi today pic.twitter.com/NPXHc3wHsj
— World News (@itsWorldNewss) March 5, 2020
Sources said Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and members of MQM-P’s Rabita Committee will represent their political party during the upcoming meeting. Sources added that both political parties will hold discussions over the current political situation and local bodies elections.
Read more: Why did PM Imran Khan not meet MQM-P leadership in Karachi?
PML-N is not happy after the government rejected its application to let Maryam Nawaz leave for London. To add insult to injury, the government has formally requested the UK authorities for Nawaz deportation. Analysts believe that the former ruling party is now planning to give tough time to the PTI. Previously, PML-N offered unconditional support to PTI to amend the Army Act to ensure extension in service of the army chief. It was speculated that the relations between the government and PML-N have been settled for some time.
Relations between MQM-P and PTI’s government
Notably, that the relations between the ruling party and MQM-P was not going quite well due to the former’s inability to ensure fulfillment of promises it had made after winning the general elections 2018. However, after constant consultation and meetings with the top leadership of MQM-P, both parties were able to ensure the continuity of the peace process.
It is worth mentioning that to pacify the MQM-P, Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar has announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Karachi to inaugurate flyover projects constructed in Karachi, local media reported on Sunday.
Has PTI managed to pacify MQM-P?#PTI #Karachi #MQMP #Politics #AsadUmar #PMImranKhan #PTIGovernment #GVSNews #Sindh https://t.co/ZfvoT1gChD
— GVS (@GVS_News) March 2, 2020
Asad Umar made the media statement while visiting three flyover projects in Karachi. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, Ali Zaidi, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Ameenul Haq, Usama Qadri and other officials have visited the under-construction flyovers in Karachi on Sunday.
Recently, in a bid to save its alliance with MQM-P, the PTI-led government has reportedly shared its working on 44 development projects with an estimated cost of Rs119 billion for Karachi to its coalition partner.
Read more: Govt is willing to share progress on 44 development projects with MQM-P
Sources at the PM Secretariat said that there were delays in the execution as some of the projects taken up by the Center were problematic in nature. The projects included the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) with a total revised cost of Rs 25.5 billion on a cost-sharing basis of 50:50 by the Center and Sindh government. The planning commission identified major flaws in the project’s design and asked the province to accomplish the project within a stipulated time frame and cost.
The federal government had earmarked Rs 9.3 billion for this project a few years ago as part of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) but the allocated amount could not be utilized.
Now there are fears that the project cost has increased as the Sindh government is planning to revise the cost to Rs75 billion. The decision was taken after the inclusion of newly developed areas of the city and installation office megawatt electricity plant to ensure a smooth water supply.
Notably, PTI’s chairman and Prime Minister Imran Khan recently directed a government committee to meet the MQM-P leadership to resolve their grievances after the Karachi-based party received an offer from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to join Sindh Government. Sources inside the government believe that MQM-P is building up pressure on the government to get maximum benefits. It is worth noting that besides other important offices, the Law Ministry is held by Farogh Naseem, a prominent leader of MQM-P.
Read more: Will MQM-P get more ministries in PM Khan’s cabinet?
The MQM-P has six seats in the national assembly and one of its members is in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet. In the 2018 election, PTI emerged as the largest party in the urban Sindh with 14 national assembly seats in Karachi. The MQM-P showed reservations over the election results but became the part of the government after PTI leader Jahangir Tareen paid a visit to the MQM-P headquarters in Karachi’s Bahadurabad.
Speaking to media, MQM-P leader Khawaja Izhar said his party was ready to accept Bilawal’s offer and join forces with the PPP if it improved the local government system in Sindh. “Our hopes from the federal government are dying as they did not honor their promises,” he said.