Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has agreed to rejoin the Cabinet and oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held on May 7, reliable sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday. According to sources, MQM wanted to join Cabinet along with Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) last Monday but President Zardari had put off the matter for sometime later on.
Sources said the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and another ministry would be given to the MQM. Sources said six or seven new ministers would be taking oath on May 7. The Cabinet will have four members of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and two of MQM.
Sources said Babar Ghauri of MQM would take oath as Minister for Ports and Shipping while names of Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Farooq Sattar and Khushbakht Shujaat are under consideration for the other ministry. Names of PPP's Justice Fakhar-un-Nisa and Begum Naseem Chaudhry are also under consideration for the post of State Minister for Law and Justice. While the names of Sherry Rehman and Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali are being considered for the post of Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Sources said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani called Muttahida Qaumi Movement Quaid Altaf Hussein on Sunday and invited the MQM to rejoin the Cabinet. An MQM delegation led by Dr Farooq Sattar called on the prime minister on Monday in Islamabad. Meanwhile, a delegation of MQM led by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan called on PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday.
Members of the delegation included Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, Dr Saghir, Waseem Aftab and Adil Siddiqui. Senator Rehman Malik, Minister for Interior and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present during the meeting. According to Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar, matters relating to law & order situation in Sindh particularly Karachi and provincial coalition were discussed during the meeting.
The MQM delegation also discussed the current economic situation and made some suggestions for the upcoming budget. The President condoled with the MQM over the death of its leader and former MPA Liaquat Qureshi and other party activists, assuring them that perpetrators of these crimes would be brought to justice.
President Zardari said PPP firmly believes in taking along all allies and coalition partners. He assured the delegation that their concerns regarding coalition government in Sindh will be duly addressed. The delegation assured President Zardari that as coalition partner the MQM will continue to support the government with a view to addressing the national problems.
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