ISLAMABAD: Amid ongoing uncertainty regarding the future of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has warned that it will reconsider its alliance with the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government if a unilateral decision is made about the governor’s position.
MQM-P senior leader Farooq Sattar stated, “The Sindh governor position belongs to the MQM-P. It was agreed in meetings with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that Tessori would remain in office.”
This warning follows recent reports that the PML-N-led federal government, in coordination with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) which governs Sindh, might replace Tessori with Bashir Memon, a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) chief and a member of the PML-N.
The MQM-P has strongly refuted these rumors. Tessori, who has the support of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and his own party, has rejected the speculation, stating he remains confident and committed to serving the public.
Sattar dismissed the rumors, asserting, “No consultation with us took place regarding this matter.”
MQM-P another leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that the governor’s role is crucial for representing the province’s urban areas, especially when the chief minister is from a rural area.
On the other hand, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar indicated that a decision on the Sindh governor position is forthcoming but denied reports suggesting that Memon would be appointed.
The MQM-P was instrumental in the ousting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in April 2022 by supporting the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) vote of no-confidence against then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. The party, led by Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, later joined the PML-N-led coalition government after the February 8 elections, which resulted in no party achieving a simple majority in the National Assembly.
With 21 seats in the lower house of parliament—17 general and four reserved—the MQM-P remains a key ally of the Sharif government. The loss of MQM-P’s support could have significant implications for the stability of the current government, especially following the Supreme Court’s July 12 ruling that revived the PTI’s standing in the assemblies and declared it eligible for reserved seats.
