LAHORE The expected has happened. On President Zardaris insistence, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has directed Dr Ishratul Ibad to resume the governorship of Sindh. Ishratul Ibad, the 30th governor of Sindh who had taken over the office on December 27, 2002, resigned some three weeks ago on June 27, when the MQM decided to quit ministries and sit on opposition benches in all houses as a mark of protest against the federal governments decision to postpone elections on two AJK Legislative Assembly seats in Karachi. Political observers are of the view that the MQM has regained the governorship but at the cost of credibility. Now, they say, it would be quite difficult for other parties, especially belonging to opposition, to trust the MQM on any issue. When the MQM had announced its decision to sit on opposition benches, few believed that it would stick to its word. Still, to try the 'time-tested party once again, the PML-N decided to take it along. Some leaders of the two parties held meetings and decided to work jointly as opposition parties. It was a very difficult decision for the PML-N to have agreed to work with the MQM, a party whose leaders had caused tremendous embarrassment to the PML-N leadership by passing some very personal remarks against the Sharif family members. Now, as things stand, it would not be possible for the MQM to continue to sit on opposition benches. And even if it tries to, it would not be able to. It would have to return to treasury benches sooner rather than later. It cant stay part of the government and the opposition at the same time. If winter comes, can spring be far behind? In other words, now that the party has agreed to resume governorship, it would also agree to allow its former ministers to resume their functions. The reason is very simple. In case the Sindh Assembly passes an act by a majority vote, despite strong opposition by the MQM legislators, the governor will have to sign it into law. This means to meet his constitutional obligations he will have to do what his party is opposed to. This dichotomy can be addressed only if the MQM lawmakers go back to the treasury benches. The MQM had to pay a heavy price for its move from treasury to opposition benches. It enabled the PPP to introduce the Commissionerate system, which the MQM is strongly opposed to, and which the Sindh government had been withholding to keep its ally with it. When Governor Isharatul Ibad resigned, the Sindh Assembly speaker automatically became the acting governor, and he wasted no time in issuing the ordinance which changed the system of local government. The PPP also won majority seats of the AJK Legislative Assembly when the MQM boycotted the election. This doesnt mean that the results would have been different if the MQM candidates had not stood away from the electoral process. But the MQM certainly lost an opportunity to fathom its popularity in Azad Kashmir. When the PPP government achieved its important objectives, it requested the PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain to persuade the MQM to return to the treasury benches. Shujaat used his persuasive skills and said a few days ago that the MQM would soon become part of the government. MQM chief Altaf Hussain also told this newspaper a couple of days ago that he was under immense pressure to reverse the decision taken on June 27. According to him, he had received countless fax messages, emails and phone calls. But he made it clear that in case he allowed Dr Ibad to resume as governor, he would set very tough conditions. Now that he has done it, it remains to be seen what those conditions are. The PPP would not be a loser even if it gives both seats of AJK Legislative Assembly to the MQM, election on which is due to be held on Wednesday (tomorrow). By Making the MQM to change its decision about the resignation of the governor, President Zardari has dented the credibility of this party. He has established that he can provoke the MQM into taking any decision and then persuade it to reverse it. In the changed situation the fate of senior minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza is uncertain. He is a major irritant for the MQM. Maybe, the president also finds a way to make the 'hated man acceptable to the MQM.