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Two former rival parties in Pakistan announced Wednesday that they would join hands against the government of President Asif Ali Zardari in the parliament and provincial assemblies.
"We have decided to cooperate first in the national parliament and the provincial assemblies and the cooperation could be expanded in future," senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) told a news conference after their meeting in Islamabad.
"We also invite other groups to join the opposition," said Senator Ishaq Dar, central leader of PML-N.
The MQM leader Haider Rizvi said that both parties have ignored political differences for the "national interest" and will now jointly work as opposition in the parliament.
The new development came just days after the MQM quit the Pakistan People's Party-led government in protest against what it called "dictatorial" approach of its coalition partner.
PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif last week welcomed MQM lawmakers to join the opposition in the parliament.
Political observers said that the agreement could pave the way for the formation of a grand opposition alliance ahead of the 2013 elections.
The MQM pulled out of President Asif Ali Zardari's PPP-led government on June 27, leaving it 12 seats short of a majority in the national assembly or lower house of parliament.
"We have decided to cooperate first in the national parliament and the provincial assemblies and the cooperation could be expanded in future," senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) told a news conference after their meeting in Islamabad.
"We also invite other groups to join the opposition," said Senator Ishaq Dar, central leader of PML-N.
The MQM leader Haider Rizvi said that both parties have ignored political differences for the "national interest" and will now jointly work as opposition in the parliament.
The new development came just days after the MQM quit the Pakistan People's Party-led government in protest against what it called "dictatorial" approach of its coalition partner.
PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif last week welcomed MQM lawmakers to join the opposition in the parliament.
Political observers said that the agreement could pave the way for the formation of a grand opposition alliance ahead of the 2013 elections.
The MQM pulled out of President Asif Ali Zardari's PPP-led government on June 27, leaving it 12 seats short of a majority in the national assembly or lower house of parliament.
