MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool resigns as federal IT minister

• Siddiqi says MQM-P has decided to leave the Cabinet as federal government failed to resolve problems being faced by Karachi.
• MQM-P leader says Karachi provides a revenue of billions of rupees but it has been deprived of funds for resolving its issues.
• Khalid says  decision to leave the cabinet has nothing to do with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto's invitation to MQM-P of joining the Sindh government.

(Karachi) Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi announced his resignation from the post as Minister for Information Technology.

Addressing a news briefing in Karachi on Sunday, he said MQM-P has decided to leave the Cabinet as federal government failed to resolve problems being faced by Karachi.

He said Karachi provides a revenue of billions of rupees but it has been deprived of funds for resolving its issues.

He added, “I am resigning as a federal minister and holding a ministry serves no purpose if issues of Karachi are not resolved.”

To a question, he said the party will decide if it wants to place another MQM-P member in the cabinet or not.

He maintained holding the post in the ministry was "raising a lot of questions".

The MQM-P leader said when his party became part of the government, they had promised to provide their support in forming the government and had promised to support them (PTI) in every difficult stage.

He said after 16-17 months, the condition of Sindh remains the same and no progress has been made to address issues face by the people.

"At this point, it becomes difficult for me to remain in the government, that I [continue to] hold a minister's position, and people in Sindh continue to face the conditions they did before we joined the [federal] government."

"We have fulfilled our promise and intend to fulfil our promise," he said.

He stated, "Our decision to leave the cabinet has nothing to do with PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto's invitation to MQM-P of joining the Sindh government."

"The lack of seriousness on these matters left us no choice," he said.

Siddiqi said that party's Rabita Committee (Coordination Committee) had held a detailed discussion on Friday after which they had concluded that it was useless for him to hold the IT minister's position.

Meanwhile, commenting on the situation Special Assistant to Prime Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said that MQM-P is the government's ally and measures are being taken to resolve issues of Karachi.

She added a government delegation will meet MQM-P to resolve all their differences amicably. She said the economy of the country is showing positive indicators and its results will also benefit Karachi.

Awan said the prime minister will not disappoint the people of Karachi and he has committed to make it the city of lights.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail contacted Khawaja Izhar and Faisal Siddiqui to resolve issues through dialogue.

Ismail emphasised that the Centre was committed to the agreements signed with MQM-P.  “The federal government will soon release funds for Karachi,” he added.

On December 30, 2019, Bilawal Bhutto  invited MQM-P to join Sindh government. He said the PPP will provide MQM equal number of seats and ministries in Sindh as they have in the federal government.