ISLAMABAD - Mutahidda Qaumi Movement’s U-turn just two days before the long march, to be led by Dr Tahirul Qadri, was prompted by political compulsions as well as a good deal offered by the PPP government, sources say.

Muttahida has withdrawn from Qadri’s long march after cutting a good deal with President Asif Ali Zardari - assurance that the MQM would be given a reasonable share in the caretaker government in centre and specially in the Sindh governments. The president also assured that local body polls would be held in Sindh soon but after taking on board all coalition partners, the sources in MQM told TheNation.
The parleys of Interior Minister with MQM chief Altaf Hussain could not fully induce him not to participate in the long march but it made a solid ground and finally the PPP’s recent assurance has made them part ways with Qadri, they said.
Interestingly, Muttahida in its sudden decision is taking the excuse ‘terrorism threat’ as they were not in favour of putting lives of million on stake, but at the same they could not be able to convince Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) chief Tahirul Qadri on this important reason.
“MQM deliberated the matter till the wee hours of Friday and finally decided not to participate in the long march. We have conveyed the TMQ chief and also asked him not to go for long march because of looming threats of terrorism,” MQM spokesman Wasay Jalil told TheNation.
Though the TMQ chief took this stance of MQM as normal, yet the MQM believes that there absence would certainly create a big gap. “MQM workers’ absence would create a big gap as millions of workers were all set to participate in the long march,” the MQM spokesman viewed, adding that they have good wishes for them and moral support is also with them.
About the expected criticism from opposition parties over this sudden stance, the MQM leader said that MQM has its own manifesto and it has never taken care of it.
MQM has shared its stance with the ruling party PPP and they have time and again assured them not to part ways with the government, he added. Other important coalition partner, which confined to give moral support to the TMQ chief has also now terming the long march is not a good way.
“Although they are in favour of demands about electoral reforms, but the long march is not a good way to compel government on it,” said PML-Q central leader Kamil Ali Agha while talking to TheNation.
There are many other ways to raise these demands but this is not a ‘good way’ at all, he added. About sudden separation of MQM, he said that the expected 40 lakh participants are seemingly not possible.
MQM has decided to separate itself from the long march, however, it will continue to support the ideology of Tahirul Qadri.