国际英语新闻：Political crisis in Pakistani averted

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Political crisis in Pakistan was averted on Friday as the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani succeeded in persuading a key political group to withdraw its decision of joining the opposition.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) or United National Movement decided on Sunday to part ways with the government of the Prime Minister Gilani, reducing his majority to minority in the parliament. Two ministers of the MQM had also quit the federal cabinet.

The MQM's decision had posed serious threat to the coalition government of Gilani and reduced its parliamentary majority into minority.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani waves upon his arrival at Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters in southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Jan. 7, 2011. Pakistan's Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) decided to rejoin the coalition government led by Pakistan People's Party after talks on Friday with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani in Karachi, restoring government's majority in parliament and ending political crisis that has plagued the government since Sunday, local media reported

Prime Minister Gilani Friday visited the headquarters of the MQM in Karachi with a request to review its earlier decision and to save his government.

MQM announced to rejoin the treasury benches but will not rejoin the cabinet. Threat to the PM Gilani's government has now subsided as it has regained majority in the parliament. MQM had protested over the recent nine percent increase in the oil prices announced by the government on Jan. 1.