ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Dispelling the rumours of any possible rift arising out of lack of trust on the matter of much-touted constitutional amendment between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Mutahhida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said that the MQM-P gave a green signal on the passage of the constitutional amendment during the latest meeting between the coalition partners.
Iqbal said that the MQM-P wanted restoration of the Article 140-A of the constitution. He said the MQM-P leadership asked for the release of their missing workers while giving important suggestions regarding the Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
According to sources, the MQM-P leadership stressed the need for empowering the local government, ending quota system and subletting the powers under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
MQM-P Convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that he had presented his demands on behalf of his party.
It may be recalled that Ahsan Iqbal along with PM’s adviser Rana Sanaullah and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar met MQM-P leaders at party’s head office in Bahadurabad on Sunday.
They held detailed discussions with MQM-P leaders before sharing the meeting’s outcome with the media. The two sides agreed to move forward with consensus and bring “more reforms” in line with the deal reached in March before the formation of the coalition government.
The MQM-P agreed to support the PML-N on the proposed amendments on the condition that the federal government provided constitutional cover to local government.
Ahsan told media later that the meeting was held on the prime minister’s directive to take them into confidence on the proposed constitutional amendments.