Nawaz welcomes MQM as Asif prolongs UK stay

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday welcomed the MQM’s decision to join the opposition in the National and Sindh assemblies as well as the Senate, saying the formation of a grand opposition alliance was necessary to eliminate corruption as last ditch efforts by the PPP government to reconcile with the MQM compelled President Asif Ali Zardari to delay his departure from London.
The PML-N chief said he was ready to support any grand alliance for the ouster of the current government through a democratic process. He asserted that a grand alliance of opposition parties was in the greater national interest and his party would support its formation.
“Politics of deception was a gone story now and he is ready to welcome those who want to sit in the opposition,” Nawaz said.
He said the government was not delivering to the masses and “it should not keep the people in dark by playing bad politics”.
Talking to reporters after chairing a meeting of the PML-N Balochistan Coordination Committee, Nawaz said owing to the bad policies of the government, over seven million people in Pakistan were living below the poverty line.
Asked about the drone attacks, he said the government should not keep the people in dark and address all issues openly. Nawaz said the government was fooling the masses by condemning the drone strikes as drones “are launched from Pakistan and end up striking Pakistan”.
He advised the government by saying that it must learn a lesson instead of repeating the mistakes.
Nawaz said the process of party reorganisation at district level had been completed and teams comprising party workers had been formed.
He said the reorganisation of the party at the central level would also be undertaken. Criticising dictatorship, Nawaz said the constitution was held in abeyance two times and a PCO was issued under which the judiciary was suspended.
Asked about PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s statement on Abbottabad inquiry, Nawaz said, “The give and take kind of politics won’t work now.” He said Shujaat’s statement was illogical.
He said the Charter of Democracy was signed in the national interest but it was not implemented in letter and spirit. To another question, the PML-N chief said no one would be allowed to hinder the reconciliation policy.
On the statement of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about Kashmir, he said it was illogical and would affect the peace process. He said the rigging in the AJK polls was evident, adding that the aid given for quake victims was used in the elections.
The PML-N chief said the government was not interested in solving the common man’s problems.
He said justice should be served to the people of Balochistan and the missing persons’ case should be addressed immediately. Nawaz said Pakistan’s prosperity was linked to peace in Balochistan.
He also said the federal government had transferred responsibilities to the province but it was exercising powers over the resources, adding that the constitution acknowledged the rights of all federating units. Balochistan peace and development is necessary for peace and development of the country, he added.
Expressing concern over not handing over resources of departments to the provinces devolved under the 18th Amendment, Nawaz alleged that the PPP’s unjust decisions had destroyed the spirit of 18th Amendment, while its government in the Centre was causing trouble in transfer of resources to the provinces which was a violation of the constitution.
He added that the responsibilities of the departments had been given to the provinces but the PPP government withheld resources of the departments.

Departure:

Meanwhile, sources told Pakistan Today that President Zardari was scheduled to fly back home on Saturday but was advised by close aids to prolong his stay in London after they made some progress in their talks with the MQM leadership.
The source said Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain was burning the midnight oil to remove MQM’s grievances and bring them back in the coalition government.
“He is working to arrange a one-to-one meeting of President Zardari with MQM chief Altaf Hussain which hasn’t materialised so far due to Altaf’s refusal,” he said.
Hussain was given a free hand by Zardari to negotiate with the estrange allied after the MQM declined to hold any further talks with Interior Minister Rehman Malik accusing him of not fulfilling his promises made with them in the past three years
When contacted, Pakistan High Commissioner in London Wajid Shamsul Hasan refused to comment while Mustafa Azizabadi, MQM Rabta Committee member ruled out any possibility of a meeting between Zardari and Altaf in London. He even denied that MQM was holding any talks the PPP government.