MQM decides to quit federal cabinet; Ishrat resigns

It can now be confirmed that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has sent his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari. The decision to leave the federal ministries was made during the Rabta Committee meeting.Addressing the media, MQM Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar hit out at the PPP government for postponing the AJK elections on reserved seats in Karachi. He said the party would first quit the federal cabinet and then in the second phase decision to leave the Sindh government would be taken. Flanked by members of the Rabta Committee, Sattar said the step-motherly treatment of the MQM by the government was no open secret any more. He said Interior Minister Rehman Malik sought to pressure the MQM into withdrawing from the contest for the AJK seats. He said these are the seats the MQM candidates had emerged victorious in the last elections. Sattar said the government made big promises with the MQM but failed to deliver on any of them. He said the PPP extended the hand of friendship, the MQM reciprocated with sincerity. However, he said, MQM minister were rendered ceremonial as none of their recommendations were ever given a serious consideration. He also said the killings of MQM workers went unchecked. The MQM rejected results of the AJK elections since dictatorial methods were used against the MQM, he added. The MQM has twice announced quitting the federal cabinet in the past, but this time round the display of harsher language by Sattar indicated both parties have reached point of no return.