PM Imran wins MQM's 'full support' to thwart Opp's no-trust move

Beleaguered Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed to ‘win over’ support from its ally, MQM, in order to thwart the Opposition’s no-confidence move, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The prime minister, however, was made to listen to a string of complaints from the MQM leaders including missing persons and sealed party offices. The premier assured his ally to reopen office of MQM leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. 

According to a tweet uploaded by Prime Minister Office on Wednesday, “Senior leadership of MQM Pakistan called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Karachi. They discussed the political situation. MQM assured its full support.”

وزیر اعظم عمران خان سے ایم کیو ایم پاکستان کی سینئر قیادت کی کراچی میں ملاقات

سیاسی صورتحال پر تبادلہ خیال

ایم کیو ایم کی طرف سے مکمل حمایت کی یقین دہانی pic.twitter.com/KTzVDNTEN4

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) March 9, 2022

It was for the first time that PM Khan visited MQM headquarters Bahadurabad in Karachi where he met with Mutahidda leadership. 

During the meeting when Mr Siddiqui asked the premier a question how would he see the current political situation, the PM replied that the MQM always supported the PTI government. 

But Mr Siddiqui rued his offices were still closed. However, Imran Khan assured him that soon MQM offices would be open. 

Displaying a sportsmanship spirit, PM Khan resolved that he would not let the no-confidence move successful. 

The meeting did not last long and the prime minister left the venue and went to Governor’s House.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who also attended the meeting said in a statement on Wednesday that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. He said MQM was an ally and it had been cooperating with the government all the time. “We have devised a future strategy with the MQM and have given it a final shape,” Mr Qureshi added. 

The foreign minister said that the MQM reposed full confidence in the personality of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Neither the MQM put forward any demand in front of PM, nor did they complain on anything, he added. 

Earlier, Imran Khan’s meeting with MQM leaders started on the wrong foot as one of the senior Muttahida leaders was not allowed to attend the talks while another ally party refused to meet him.

MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan was not allowed to attend the meeting between the party leaders and the prime minister which made him angry and he stormed out of the Muttahida office.

Imran Khan reached MQM's headquarters in Bahadurabad area and held talks with the Muttahida leaders to garner support of government allies in the face of no-trust motion submitted by the opposition against him.

Federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Ali Zaidi and Sindh Governor Imran Ismaeil accompanied the prime minister to the meeting with MQM leaders.

Imran Khan is still holding his pitch and is hopeful that he could deflect the opposition’s onslaught. Earlier reports said that PTI government’s ally GDA Head Pir Sadruddin Shah had refused to call on him at Sindh Governor’s House.

Sources informed that owing to PM Khan’s arrival in the city, the Sindh governor cancelled Ahsas Kafalat function that was scheduled to be held at the Governor House today.

They said that prime minister’s visit would be short. After visiting MQM’s HQ Bahaduabad,the PM would meet the PTI members of the National Assembly.

MQM’s Hyderabad office de-sealed

The zonal office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Hyderabad was de-sealed on Wednesday after five-and-a-half years. .

MQM Hyderabad Zonal Incharge Zafar Siddiqui said that the office was sealed in August 2016, adding that it had been reopened after permission from the district administration.

The de-sealing of the MQM’s Hyderabad office has come as a big relief for the party in the current political circumstances when the PTI government in the centre is struggling to muster support of the allies.

Reporters Awais Kiyani, Ali Hamza and Hassan Abbas