Pakistan coalition partner holds crisis talk

KARACHI — The second largest partner in Pakistan's fragile coalition held crisis talks Wednesday after a prominent religious party walked out of the government, triggering fears of a collapse.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which has its powerbase among the Urdu-speaking majority in the financial capital Karachi held a meeting lasting more than four hours.

The session was chaired by MQM leader and founder Altaf Hussain, on a conference call from self-imposed exile in London.

Those taking part held a "detailed" discussion on the current political situation and the ruling Pakistan People Party's (PPP) behaviour towards its allies, a communique read by provincial minister Raza Haroon said.

It did not comment in detail on the departure of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF) from the government.

"It is their democratic right and we respect it," it said.

"The government should treat its coalition partners as its allies and give up its unreasonable behaviour towards its coalition parties," the communique said.

Earlier Farooq Sattar, head of MQM's parliamentary faction, told AFP that the emergency meeting would forge a future strategy.

Pakistan's most pro-Taliban Islamic party JUIF walked out on Tuesday after PPP Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked one of its three cabinet ministers.

The government needs a simple majority of 172 members in the 342-seat national assembly, which has not been affected by JUIF's departure with only eight seats in the lower house of parliament.

But MQM support is considered crucial to the PPP coalition. Party relations have already soured over a surge in political violence in Karachi, which saw more than 155 people killed and sparked allegations of MQM involvement.

PPP has 128 lawmakers in the lower assembly and commands a total of 184, based on coalition partners and allied independent members.

MQM has 25 seats in the federal parliament and could theoretically bring down the government unless the PPP can shore up replacement coalition partners.

The federal government's third coalition partner, the Awami National Party, on Tuesday pledged public support for the PPP after JUIF's withdrawal.

Pakistan coalition partner holds crisis talk