Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani (right of center) speaks with leaders of MQM during a meeting at their headquarters in Karachi on January 7.
The Pakistan People's Party has once again regained its footing. At this time of year the fuel price hikes were not good. They need to be rethought.
January 07, 2011
Less than a week (click title to entry - thank you) after the country descended into political chaos when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) defected to the opposition, leaving the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) scrambling to find new alliances, the MQM has returned to preserve the ruling coalition's majority.
MQM official Raza Haroon made the announcement on January 7 after days of hectic discussions that culminated in Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's visit to MQM headquarters in the southern seaport of Karachi.
"For the sake of our country, nation, and democracy, and in response to the prime minister's good will and for the promotion of democracy and keeping in view the delicate [political] situation of the country, Muttahida is announcing to sit on the government benches [in the parliament]," Haroon said. "But our coordination committee has decided that we will not be able to rejoin the federal cabinet for now."
But to woo his largest coalition partner back into the fold, Prime Minister Gilani was forced to accede to a key MQM demand -- the lifting of recently imposed and highly unpopular fuel-price hikes. And with the end of the short-lived austerity measures rises the question of whether Gilani set Pakistan on the road to economic ruin in order to preserve his government.
MQM official Raza Haroon made the announcement on January 7 after days of hectic discussions that culminated in Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's visit to MQM headquarters in the southern seaport of Karachi.
"For the sake of our country, nation, and democracy, and in response to the prime minister's good will and for the promotion of democracy and keeping in view the delicate [political] situation of the country, Muttahida is announcing to sit on the government benches [in the parliament]," Haroon said. "But our coordination committee has decided that we will not be able to rejoin the federal cabinet for now."
But to woo his largest coalition partner back into the fold, Prime Minister Gilani was forced to accede to a key MQM demand -- the lifting of recently imposed and highly unpopular fuel-price hikes. And with the end of the short-lived austerity measures rises the question of whether Gilani set Pakistan on the road to economic ruin in order to preserve his government.
