An audio recording, allegedly of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, surfaced on Wednesday in which he is heard claiming that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is being pressured by the two larger parties to accept a smaller role in the future federal cabinet and lose the governor's seat.
The 100-second-long audio surfaced on Wednesday morning as the MQM-P, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) continue to thrash out the federal cabinet's makeup. The MQM-P has already hinted that it may decide not to sit on the treasury benches unless its demands are met.
In the audio, one man is heard saying: fact is if we have got the mandate, the same way others have got the mandate, we have said if ours is 100%, some people are saying there are other parties (their indication was towards them) have a 200% fake mandate. This means those who did not get it during the following night and day nor the next day got 200% results on the third day.
"We explained this to them very clearly," he said, adding, "The decision will now have to be taken by all of them and the Raabita Committee, including [convener] Khalid (Maqbool Siddiqui) How much of their pressure do we bow to."
"Their pressure is that the two parties have come together and have the numbers between them. They (PML-N) have given them (PPP) the post of President and Senate Chairman, as well as two governorships. Despite that, the PPP pressures them not to grant Sindh's governorship to the MQM. And even if it is granted, it should not be for the name suggested by the party.
"There is a name they have hinted at; if Khalid (Maqbool Siddiqui) wants, he can disclose it," he adds.
"I believe that whether it is governorship, its decision must be taken by MQM-P; it won't be a name per their dictation."
The man can be further heard saying, "if we are taking such a big risk by joining a government which will only be met with abuse and disdain from the public - something which has begun given incidents with Hanif Abbasi and Khawaja Saad, but even if we do support them and get nothing in return, get only science and technology in ministries and governorship they get their way, we are part of government and vote (for parliamentary motions) but get nothing then our condition will only worsen."