By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani government was pushed to political turmoil on Monday after a partner quit the ruling coalition, leaving the minority administration that will struggle to survive.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) pulled out of President Asif Zardari’s Peoples Party government, leaving it 12 seats short of a majority in the national assembly or lower house of parliament. The MQM said the government has never been sincere to the group despite its support over the past three years.
On Sunday, the MQM boycotted the elections in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir after the government postponed elections on two seats MQM poised to win.
Governor of southern Sindh province, Ishra-ul-Ebad, MQM advocate, decided to resign as per decision of the party. A spokesman for the governor said that the governor has sent his resignation to the President.
The MQM has withdrawn its two ministers from the Federal Government and all ministers from Sindh government.
The MQM decision will reduce support of several seats in the parliament but there is no immediate threat to the government as an opposition group Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) has joined the ruling coalition.
The MQM, whose leader Altaf Hussain lives in self-imposed exile in London for almost two decades, Sunday accused the government of ‘stabbing at the back’ of the coalition partner and said ‘destruction of the government has started’.
President Asif Zardari, who is in London, is likely to meet the MQM chief there to convince him to withdraw the decision, reports said.
Spokesman for the government in Sindh Sharjeel Memon said that the government will give response after consulting the leaders.