KARACHI – The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday decided that their alliance will remain intact and the two parties would continue to pursue reconciliatory politics for the stability of the country and welfare of the people. The two parties made this decision during a meeting between President Asif Zardari and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad at Bilawal House. Interior Minister Rehman Malik was also present. President Zardari asked the MQM to play its role of a coalition partner and not threaten to break the alliance time and again over petty issues.
Sources said MQM’s demands that the PPP should disown the People’s Amn Committee and remove Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza were not accepted by the president. However, the MQM decided to put forward two more demands asking the government to include its suggestions in the proposed Local Bodies Ordinance and make community police workers – made up of MQM activists and supporters – a part of the Sindh Police.Briefing reporters after the meeting, president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere.
He said the meeting also resolved that all issues will be addressed in a spirit of mutual accommodation and in accordance with the mission of the leaders of the two parties. It was also agreed that in the larger interest of the country and the people, stern action would be taken against criminals of every hue and persuasion and no criminal would be allowed to seek shelter behind a political facade. During the meeting, Malik also gave a briefing on his recent meeting with MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
Though homework for resolving all contentious issues between the MQM and PPP was completed during Malik’s meeting with Altaf in London on Sunday, a final announcement in this regard is expected on Tuesday. Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Monday had announced proroguing a Sindh Assembly session for at least three weeks. However, the Sindh governor convened another session on Tuesday. It is believed that this separate session was convened to show PPP-MQM unity. The MQM, which continued its boycott until Monday, the last day of the last session, is expected to attend the newly-convened session after their leaders meeting with President Zardari. It is believed that the MQM’s bargaining position was weakened after the PPP’s serious move to keep the PML-Q with the PPP as an alternative.
