MQM-P fails to decide about supporting Zardari in presidential poll

KARACHI: The decision of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Rabita Committee regarding whether or not to support Asif Ali Zardari in the presidential election has been postponed.

Sources reveal that the Rabita Committee meeting, specifically convened to discuss the presidential election, has been deferred due to the busy schedules of its members.

The meeting, initially planned for discussing this matter, has now been rescheduled for Wednesday.

Sources familiar with the situation expect that the party’s stance on the presidential election will likely be determined during the Wednesday meeting.

In the meantime, MQM-Pakistan has taken steps to reinstate the previous party structure and has assigned responsibilities to each member of the Sindh Assembly at the town level.

Assembly members have also been instructed to establish offices in their respective constituencies to address issues faced by the public.

Earlier on Monday, MQM-P had emphasized that its support for the allied parties’ nominee, Asif Ali Zardari, in the presidential elections would be contingent upon approval from the Rabita Committee.

A joint delegation from the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) met with MQM-P leaders at Parliament lodges in Islamabad ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for March 9. During the meeting, the delegation formally requested MQM-P leaders to endorse the joint candidate, Asif Ali Zardari, in the upcoming polls. Following the meeting, Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui informed journalists that the party’s Rabta Committee would make the final decision regarding support for the allied parties’ candidate.