Federal minister quitting over ‘unfulfilled’ pledges

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has announced his decision to leave the federal cabinet over “unfulfilled promises” on part of the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“We had promised the government to help with the formation of the government, and we held our end of the deal.
“However, none of the promises made to us has seen any progress,” Siddiqui said while addressing a press conference in Karachi along with senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult for me to remain a part of the federal cabinet as questions are being raised upon my presence in the cabinet,” he explained.
Speaking about the agreement with the government, the MQM-P convener told the media that two agreements were made with the PTI, one in Bani Gala, the PM’s personal residence in Islamabad, the other in the Bahadurabad, in Karachi, in the presence of the PTI’s Jahangir Tareen.
Siddiqui said that the MQM-P had supported the federal government in every difficult phase but “injustice was still being done with Sindh province”.
In response to a question regarding the ending of its alliance with the government, Siddiqui said: “We did not ask for the law ministry. Neither did we propose (law minister) Farogh Naseem’s name. The two names that we had proposed for the ministry did not include [Farogh] Naseem’s name.
“The government had selected his [Farogh Naseem] name on its own.”
Siddiqui denied that his decision had anything to do with the recent proposal of provincial ministries by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in exchange for the MQM-P’s help in toppling the government.
“This has nothing to do with the PPP’s offer,” he said.
Last month the PPP chairman had offered the MQM-P provincial ministries if it helped “topple the government”.
Bhutto Zardari had said, addressing the MQM-P: “The PPP will support the toppling of PTI rule. The economic situation is dangerous and the PTI government is making policies that go against the [interests of] poverty-stricken people.”
“We are ready to give you the same number of ministries in Sindh,” he added.
Speaking about Karachi, Bhutto Zardari said that the city “is very important” and acknowledged that, “we need to give basic rights to the Karachiites”.
He had also blamed the PTI for the ongoing gas crisis in Sindh and accused it of “stealing gas”.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that “Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has not sent his resignation to the federal cabinet.”
“A committee headed by federal minister Asad Umar will meet MQM-P leaders tomorrow and try to address their grievances,” she told Geo News, adding that “the MQM is our coalition partner and will remain so”.
Separately, Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to sources, has tasked Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and other party officials in Sindh to meet MQM-P leaders.
Khan is said to be in agreement with the MQM-P’s concerns, deeming their grievances “legitimate” and vowing that the promises made to them will be “fulfilled”.
The prime minister, as per sources, said that he is aware of Karachi’s importance as an “economic hub” and vowed not to ignore it.