ISLAMABAD, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Political crisis in Pakistan was averted on Friday as the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani succeeded in persuading a key political group to withdraw（撤回） its decision of joining the opposition.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)（全国移民运动） or United National Movement decided on Sunday to part ways with the government of the Prime Minister Gilani, reducing his majority to minority in the parliament. Two ministers of the MQM had also quit the federal cabinet.
The MQM's decision had posed serious threat to the coalition government of Gilani and reduced its parliamentary majority into minority.
Prime Minister Gilani Friday visited the headquarters of the MQM in Karachi with a request to review its earlier decision and to save his government.
MQM announced to rejoin the treasury benches but will not rejoin the cabinet. Threat to the PM Gilani's government has now subsided as it has regained majority in the parliament. MQM had protested over the recent nine percent increase in the oil prices announced by the government on Jan. 1.
On Thursday Gilani withdrew the hike in the fuel prices to win the support from MQM. MQM had also made several other demands including end to corruption and imposition of tax on landlords. The other demands have not yet been accepted, but MQM said that it will not send the prime minister back empty handed and announced support to him after Gilani held talks with MQM in Karachi.
Prime Minister Gilani had launched series of meetings with some opposition parties to avoid collapse of his government as he had been under pressure to seek fresh vote of confidence in the parliament.
Although the MQM's decision has given some sigh of relief to the prime minister, the crisis will remain as the main opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-N of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given a few-day deadline for the acceptance of several tough demands.
Sharif had earlier set a deadline for the prime minister to respond in three days whether or not accepting the demands. He extended the deadline for another three days due to the assassination of the governor of Punjab province Salman Taseer, which has plunged the country into a critical situation. Sharif's demands are tough and Prime Minister Gilani has not responded to his call yet.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑) |