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Summary
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has decided to sit on opposition benches in National Assembly and Senate.According to details, the decision to play a role as opposition was made during the MQM Coordination Committee meetings which were held in Karachi and London simultaneously. In these meetings, MQM leadership reviewed its role in national issues and decided that the present government has failed to provide relief to masses, therefore, MQM has decided to join opposition in National Assembly and Senate.MQM leader Faisal Sabzwari said that MQMs decision to leave the government was a reaction of unprecedented hike in POL prices and high inflation in the country.MQM leaders Haider Abbas Rizwi and Faisal Sabzwari said that the MQM would support the government despite sitting on opposition benches.Both the leaders while talking to media said that the MQM would continue its support to the present governments policies which were in public interest. They said that MQM did not want to destabilize the democracy and had made the decision with an honest intent. They said that MQM would not ask Prime Minister for vote of confidence. They confirmed that the decision to leave the coalition was made in reaction of high inflation rate and increase in petroleum prices. They said that the MQM has asked the government to take steps to reduce the prices of daily commodities but the government did not respond. They said that on Monday, the MQM would forward a request for sitting on opposition benches to the Speaker of National Assembly.According to sources, MQM may separate from Sindh Provincial Assembly. Govt to complete 5-year tenure: Gillani Commenting on the MQM decision, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that the government would complete its 5-year period.Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that the government would functional without MQMs coalition and added that PML-N would not derail the political system. He stated that President Asif Ali Zardari was holding meetings with MQM to resolve the issues and there was no deadlock, these meetings would be held in future. He said that the government would complete its 5-year tenure, he added. It is pertinent to mention here that the PPP has lost its strength in National Assembly. PM telephones Altaf HussainPrime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani made a telephone call to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and discussed the current political situation in the country and MQMs decision to sit on opposition benches.
