Wednesday, December 29th, 2010 VOA News The government of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is playing down claims that the ruling coalition is at risk of collapsing.
Government officials held talks with leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Wednesday, after the party pulled two of its ministers from the federal Cabinet.
MQM leaders cite corruption and rising prices for the move.
The Karachi-based MQM is a key member of the coalition government. If it withdraws, Mr. Zardari's U.S.-allied government could lose its majority in parliament.
Government representatives also met Wednesday with members of the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which quit the ruling coalition last month.
A government spokesman said Mr. Zardari is working to keep the parties in the coalition and predicted there would be positive developments in coming days. He did not elaborate.
The spokesman, Qamar Zaman Kaira, also dismissed JUI demands that President Zardari remove Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, saying the prime minister was unanimously elected by parliament.
The JUI has accused Prime Minister Gilani of sparking tensions between coalition members.
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