News Analysis |
Former finance minister and banker Shaukat Tareen flew to Karachi, on Monday, to meet the convener of MQM, Khalid Mehmood Siddique, to invite them for joining the federal government led by PTI. It is reported that Pakistan Tehreeke Insaaf was still short of seats needed to attain the simple majority. The meeting was held on the 30th of July. After the successful meeting, MQM-P decided to become part of the government at the center, but they will sit in opposition in Sindh Assembly.
MQM’s meeting with PTI
The MQM-P has won six seats in central government including the two seats in Hyderabad and four seats in Karachi. They won 24 seats in last General Election held in 2013. If we compare both elections, their support has deteriorated at national and provincial level.
They failed to maintain law and order and also failed to resolve the water issue. To conclude, the overall trends indicate that it is quite natural for MQM to join the government at the Centre
Shaukat Tareen was accompanied by his party leaders based in Karachi including Arif Alvi, Imran Ismail, and Firdous Shamim Naqvi. The meeting between both the parties was held at MQM headquarter in Bahadurabad. According to the sources, MQM has no intentions of in getting ministry at the federal level.
Mr. Tareen said PTI has asked MQM to join hands with them for sake of the country. As both parties have a mandate of people in Karachi. They claim that it is the time to serve the people of Karachi together.
Read more: MQM & PSP: A one night stand
Trends of MQM in General Election
As per General election results of 2008 MQM, won 17 out of 20 seats at the federal level. According to the statistics of Election Commission seats at a provincial level, MQM got 32 out of 42 seats in Karachi. They formed a government at provincial assembly with the PPP. MQM was part of a coalition government in the center.
I was unique case because before that no party managed to create its vote bank in Karachi. The experts called it a major change in voting patterns particularly in the context of local politics of Karachi. In 2013 General Election, MQM bagged the majority of seats in the Karachi once again.
Shaukat Tareen was accompanied by his party leaders based in Karachi including Arif Alvi, Imran Ismail, and Firdous Shamim Naqvi.
They emerged as the biggest party in comparison to the PTI. In a response to allegations of rigging by the opposition parties including PTI. Farooq Sattar said in his statement. “The media has started creating hype and those parties which lost the election have started this blame game,”.
Read more: Election 2018: Dawn of a Post-MQM Karachi
According to the convener of MQM, they still maintain a stronghold in Karachi and opposition parties should accept their defeat instead of using blame game tactics. In another statement by MQM leadership. “The people of Karachi have rejected them through their votes and they should accept their defeat.”
General Election of 2018
In General election of 2018 MQM have lost their major seats in Karachi at the hands of PTI counterparts, despite their claims of the only party representing the mandate of people of Karachi. At the same time, the divisions within the party leadership to loss of major seats in Karachi. MQM-P blamed rigging and hidden forces for their defeat.
According to the experts, their performance is the result of their failure to keep the stability of Karachi intact. The unrest in Karachi during their tenure has left people disappointed and Karachi in a huge economic loss. If one compares the last three elections it would be safe to claim that MQM mostly supported the majority government at federal level. As they have intentions of staying in power based on past track record.
According to the statistics of Election Commission seats at a provincial level, MQM got 32 out of 42 seats in Karachi. They formed a government at provincial assembly with the PPP.
The recent statement by MQM to join PTI at the federal level is an expected response on their part. According to the political analysts, MQM would support the PTI government to restore their image in eyes of people. The public opinion is against them due to poor performance in governing Karachi.
They failed to maintain law and order and also failed to resolve the water issue. To conclude, the overall trends indicate that it is quite natural for MQM to join the government at the Centre. MQM is already on the losing side as they lost major seats in Karachi in General Election of July 2018.
Read more: MQM and PTI are terrorists: Bilawal
According to experts, it would help them in regaining their support from people and play their role at the national level. The trends predict MQM supports the leading party in General Election in order to remain in power rather than staying in opposition. But critics are of the view it would not help MQM in their attempt to change the perception of people about them.