ISLAMABAD, Pakistan | The country’s prime minister tried Monday to keep his ruling coalition in power after a key party said it was defecting to the opposition, leaving the government without majority support in parliament.
The loss of the second-largest party in the coalition creates new political turmoil that could provide another excuse to put off a military offensive against Taliban and al Qaeda militants — something the U.S. has been pushing its allies in the Pakistani government to do.
Security, however, is largely the purview of Pakistan’s powerful military.
The shift in the political landscape is not expected to lead to a collapse of the fragile government. But any additional instability could work against U.S. objectives for the war at a time when cutting the Taliban off inside Pakistan is critical for any lasting progress in Afghanistan.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said Sunday it was joining the opposition because of fuel-price increases, inflation and the generally poor performance of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The government announced increases in gas and heating oil prices on New Year’s Eve.
“The petrol bomb the government has dropped on the people of Pakistan has forced our party to part ways with such insane decisions,” said Faisal Subzwari, an MQM leader.
MQM Cabinet ministers already tendered their resignations last week. Another, smaller party, the Jamiat Ulema Islam, announced in December it would switch to the opposition.
Without the two, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s ruling coalition will fall about a dozen seats short the 172 seats needed for a majority in the 342-member parliament. That means the fractured opposition parties — if they can work together — could sponsor a no-confidence vote in Mr. Gilani. If it passed by a majority, it would remove Mr. Gilani from office and possibly trigger early elections.
Analysts said Mr. Gilani had only weeks, if not days, to keep his coalition intact or scrape together a new one.
However, he appeared to have a bit of breathing room because it is unlikely the fragmented opposition will be able to close ranks and oust Mr. Gilani with a no-confidence vote.
Analysts say MQM may merely be trying to win concessions from the ruling party that would mainly increase its already significant power in the southern port city of Karachi.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is the head of the PPP, and his position as president would likely be safe even if the party loses its majority in parliament.
Analysts speculate that Mr. Zardari might be willing to replace Mr. Gilani with a prime minister more acceptable to other parties to avoid the PPP’s losing power. But Zardari spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Monday the president backs Mr. Gilani and won’t abandon him.
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