ISLAMABAD – President Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday advised Quaid Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain to exercise restraint and not to make hasty decision of Muttahida’s parting ways with the coalition government.
Talking to him over the phone, Shujaat Hussain asked Altaf Hussain to stay in the ruling alliance as MQM’s pull-out from the PPP-led coalition government would either push opposition parties to forge an alliance with the PML-N for an in-house change or compel the country to go for mid-term polls and the both options were not feasible and favourable to PML-Q and MQM, a source privy to the talks between two leaders informed.
Altaf Hussain agreed with Shujaat Hussain and said both parties were not in a position to make any new political alignment with PML-N in the driving seat, the source said, adding “Both leaders also agreed that the country could not afford mid-term polls in the existing economic meltdown and deteriorating law and order situation,” said the source.
Taking MQM chief into confidence over PML-Q’s delegation meeting with President Zardari, the source said Shujaat Hussain told him that despite the president’s desire the PML-Q was not going to join the coalition government as the prime consideration behind Q-League’s courtship with the PPP was the politics of Punjab where the PML-N had robbed it of its mandate using favour and force. Meanwhile, Federal Law Minister, Dr Babar Awan called on PML-Q president on his residence but failed to convince him to join the ruling coalition. IRFAN BUKHARI
