KARACHI: The prospects of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan installing its leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly brightened on Tuesday when the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) announced support for former’s candidate Rana Ansar for the constitutional office.
The formal announcement of the fresh understanding came from the two parties after an MQM-P delegation, led by Mustafa Kamal and Dr Farooq Sattar, visited the GDA leaders at Functional House, held hour-long talks and reached a consensus to make joint efforts with for the appointment of Rana Ansar as the first woman leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly.
Sardar Rahim, senior GDA leader and spokesman for the opposition alliance, announced the agreement between the two sides, at a press conference.
He said the new leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly would pave the way for more understanding and political space between the MQM-P and the GDA.
He shared details of points raised by the GDA team led by Dr Safdar Abbasi during their discussions.
Later, talking to journalists, Dr Abbasi said the two sides had a consensus about the “bad and corrupt governance” of the Pakistan Peoples Party that brought the two parties closer to resist the “rule of corruption and nepotism” in the province.
Describing PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari as “Modi of Sindh”, he said the ruling party had not only ruined the social and economic fabric of the province, but also created a wide gulf between urban and rural areas triggering hatred among the people of the second largest province of the country.
“So we are clear about our strategy goal of struggle. We are the only opposition alliance which is intact despite serious challenges and tough phases. We will not let the PPP devastate the Sindh province and for that we expect our MQM-P friends to struggle along with us with the same approach,” added Dr Abbasi.
Speaking on the occasion, MQM-P’s Mustafa Kamal sounded hopeful about the future prospects of the new partnership. He said that the new understanding between the two sides was not only for the appointment of the leader of opposition from his party.
“We look forward for strong relationship in the future to bridge the growing divide between the rural and urban Sindh, only due to bad and corrupt governance of the PPP,” he said.
“The PPP has always used this divide for its vested political interests. But the time and ground realities have changed over the past few years. Every single person living in Sindh is now aware of the PPP’s corrupt practices and its unjust rule in Sindh for last 15 years.”
He thanked the GDA leaders for accepting their request and offering support for Ms Ansar for the slot of opposition leader vowing that his party would take the opposition alliance onboard in all decisions, including consultation with the government over the upcoming caretaker set-up.
