LAHORE – The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) on Thursday accepted the invitation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to attend its rally in Lahore on April 10. The recent contacts between the PML-Q and MQM are seen as an attempt to counter the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Punjab and Lahore, as the ruling Punjab party is a common enemy for the PML-Q and the MQM at the moment.
Political analysts also forecast a potential political alliance between the two parties. As part of its untiring efforts to make a successful entry in Punjab, a high-level MQM delegation led by Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar called on former Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at his Gulberg residence.
The delegation not only conveyed MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s message to Elahi but also asked for the PML-Q’s support to make the party’s rally in Lahore a ‘success show’. The former Punjab CM assured the MQM delegation that a PML-Q delegation will not only attend the rally but also extend full support in this regard. Elahi thanked Sattar for inviting him to the rally.
The MQM leader told the PML-Q leader that Altaf will soon call him to discuss the prevailing political circumstances. He also congratulated PML-Q MNA Awais Leghari on his convincing victory in the Dera Ghazi (DG) Khan by-elections and said that his victory was the result of Elahi’s good policies during his tenure as chief minister.
Afterwards, both Elahi and Sattar briefed journalists about their meeting. Sattar said that Karachi is the financial hub of the country and the federal government should ensure security and social harmony in the mega city. The MQM leader said that the economic and financial resource base of the country be expanded and rich segments of society must be brought into a “flawless and just” tax system. Sattar regretted target killings in Karachi saying that it was a major test for his party.
Elahi stressed upon the need for adopting transparent mechanisms during the recently started census campaign and in the preparation of new voters’ lists. He demanded holding of local government elections as early as possible. Welcoming the MQM to Punjab, the former Punjab CM said that the MQM’s inclusion in mainstream national politics was a good sign for better inter-provincial harmony and national solidarity.
He said that despite the PML-N’s attempts to create rifts by supporting turncoats, the PML-Q was still a popular party and the DG Khan election victory was a sign of better times ahead. He said that the people of Punjab greatly appreciated the services rendered by his government whereas they were highly dissatisfied with the present Punjab government’s pathetic and miserable performance.
Elahi blamed the Punjab government for unleashing a reign of poverty, unemployment and inflation in the country’s largest province. He said that the issues of doctors and PCS officers had gone out of control due to rulers’ incompetence and criminal mishandling. He said that the effective role of local governments in bringing development to the doorstep of the poor was proven during his government.
Elahi reiterated his unflinching support to young doctors and urged them to treat emergency patients in order to prevent any unfortunate life loss. Sattar mentioned the strong relations of his party with PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Elahi and said that this relationship had remained uninfluenced whether they were in government or opposition.
He said that target killings in Karachi had increased manifold after the MQM’s announcement of holding a rally in Lahore on April 10. Sattar accused certain elements of attempting to confine the MQM to Karachi and Sindh.
