Sattar says his decision is final

Islamabad: The Karachi-based Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) yesterday formally announced the withdrawal of its candidate for prime minister in favour of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Farooq Sattar, MQM leader in the National Assembly, had been nominated by the combined opposition earlier to run for the top office.

He told reporters after a meeting with the leadership of former ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) that he was withdrawing from the race and that the decision was final.

The MQM, which has 23 seats in the National Assembly, broke its alliance with the PML-Q after having been its partner in the previous government for five years.

Setback

The move marked a major setback to leaders of the outgoing ruling alliance and analysts said it was likely to intensify the already visible cracks in the PML-Q following its crushing defeat in the February 18 elections.

PML-Q president Shujaat Hussain later told a news conference that his party, which has around 50 seats in the 342-member assembly, would name a new candidate after consultations with remaining allies.

Candidates are to file nomination papers today and the National Assembly will meet tomorrow to elect a prime minister.

Sattar said the MQM took the decision to "help bridge the gulf between people of urban and rural Sindh".

The PPP is to form a coalition government at the centre and also in Sindh where it is the majority party in the provincial assembly in the elections held on February 18, followed by the MQM in second position.

The MQM's decision followed a telephonic conversation yesterday between PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and London-based MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

Stability

Political circles consider a harmonious PPP-MQM relationship helpful for stability in Sindh, in the changed political scenario after the defeat of President Pervez Musharraf's allies in the elections. Sattar said the PPP co-chairman had sought Altaf Hussain's support for the PPP's prime minister candidate.

It remains to be seen whether the MQM would get a share in power in Sindh and in the PPP-led federal coalition government.

"The ball is now in the court of the PPP whether they want us to join the government or not," Sattar said, adding that the MQM leader had taken the decision in the larger national interest as the country was facing a multi-dimensional crisis.