MQM expects more slots in cabinet

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar said on Tuesday that the party would get its share in the federal cabinet according to the set formula in the coalition government.

Talking to journalists in parliament after the election of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as the new prime minister, he said, “If the cabinet expands to more than 25 ministers, then the MQM will get four slots in the cabinet similar to how the MQM is an equal partner in the Sindh cabinet.” He hailed the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) leadership for the in-house change without letting democracy be derailed once again. “With the election of a new leader of the house without the dissolution of assemblies, the PML has set a new tradition in the parliamentary history of the country. This is the first time after 1985 that a government has been changed without dissolving assemblies,” he said.

This new tradition, he said, would help the political culture prosper in the country and make it possible for the assemblies to complete their five-year terms.

Mr Sattar congratulated Chaudhry Shujaat on behalf of his party for winning the prime minister slot and hoped that he (Shujaat) would include allies during his tenure as prime minister. “Chaudhry Shujaat is a senior and experienced parliamentarian and we hope that the alliance will be further strengthened and democratic values will improve under his leadership,” he added.

About the law and order situation in Karachi, he said that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had assured the MQM of full support from the central government to restore peace and stability in the city.

The MQM leader hailed the political sagacity of former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali who saved the system from collapsing with his resignation.

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