MQM decides to join opposition in NA

CNews KARACHI, March 15: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement will be part of a Pakistan Muslim League-Q-led combined opposition in the inaugural session of the National Assembly.Party sources told Dawn on Saturday that a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of MQM’s coordination committee held simultaneously in London and Karachi on Friday night.The sources, however, said that no decision had been taken about the party’s future role in the Sindh Assembly.The sources said that the meeting, which was presided over by convener Dr Imran Farooq, reviewed the political situation with special reference to the March 17 National Assembly session and the election of speaker and deputy speaker.The MQM’s parliamentary leader-designate in the National Assembly, Dr Farooq Sattar, briefed the coordination committee about details and the outcome of the meeting.The sources said that all participants unanimously backed the decision to sit with combined opposition parties in the National Assembly. However, the decision about the party’s future role in the Sindh Assembly was deferred till the summoning of its inaugural session.The meeting discussed differences within the PPP leadership over the nomination for the prime ministerial slot.The sources said that ‘informal contacts’ of PPP’s senior vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim with other political parties came under discussion. The MQM was ready to meet Mr Fahim or any other PPP leader if they contacted the party, the sources said.Dr Imran Farooq and PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain discussed a strategy for the National Assembly session by telephone.A source told Dawn that a meeting between Mr Fahim and MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar was expected shortly.