ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A major political party said Tuesday that it would pull its two members from the national Cabinet, renewing questions about the viability of the governing coalition led by President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party.
The move by the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), which controls the large port city of Karachi, does not immediately endanger the government. But the party indicated that it was also considering withdrawing from the coalition — a move that could cost the U.S.-backed government its parliamentary majority or, if the MQM joined the opposition, cause the government to collapse.
The decision sent tremors through an administration grappling with a depressed economy, a powerful Islamist insurgency and persistent violence in Karachi. It added pressure to a coalition already weakened this month when a small religious party, Jamiat-e-Ulema-i-Islami, joined the opposition.
That party’s leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, called Tuesday for the resignation of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, who he said was overseeing a crisis that “could derail democracy.”
In announcing the resignations, MQM leaders cited anger that the Cabinet “ignored” its proposals. But they said they wanted to give the government time to improve.
“The government has failed to address the serious problems confronting the poor masses,” said Faisal Sabzwari, a senior MQM leader. “We know the inflation can’t be done away with in a single night, and the same is the case with the law-and-order situation. But steps toward good governance could resolve these matters.”
Pakistan People’s Party officials insisted Tuesday that they could sustain the coalition, and they indicated willingness to strike deals.
“We have been allies for years, and I fully hope we will be able to bring back the MQM into central government soon,” said Fozia Wahab, a PPP spokeswoman. “In politics, there is always a room for reconciliation.”
