Zardari, Altaf ‘brothers in politics’

Advisor to PM on Interior Rehman Malik Friday said that Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain and President Asif Ali Zardari would continue to share their brotherhood by working together in the broader interest of the country.
During a quick chat with journalists at the Karachi airport, he said his disclosures regarding the law and order situation in Karachi were not his words rather the reports were prepared by his department after extensive legwork.
“Karachi is Pakistan’s biggest urban center and my public statements on its law & order situation are based on the intelligence I receive from my official sources. My word on it is neither less nor more than that,” said the advisor.
He said gangs of violent criminals had mushroomed in the metropolis at an alarming rate.
“These felonious bands need to be rounded up before it is too late,” he added.
Replying to a query, he said that in the wake of the 18th constitutional amendment the maintenance of city’s law and order was a provincial matter.
Given the circumstance, Sindh police would be empowered with material as well as human resources before long.
“Prime Minister himself will visit Karachi very soon to review the situation in the city taking all the stakeholders on board,” Malik said.
The advisor said that Pakistan Peoples’ Party and MQM’s strong alliance was a pain in the neck for their rival parties.
“Both the coalition partners would work hand in hand for the upcoming elections to ensure another term.”
An optimistic Malik also claimed that PPP was predestined to get away with a thumping victory in the polls to come.
What the coalition partner wants, the coalition partner gets

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has wooed its coalition partner – Muttehida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – by appointing the party’s blue eyed official Fazalur Rehman known as Lala as the secretary of the important department of Sindh local government, Pakistan Today has learnt. The appointment was made after President Asif Zardari gave a go-ahead to the Sindh government in his visit to the city the other day. In this regard, a notification was also issued by the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department (SGA&CD) that Fazalur Rehman had been appointed as secretary local government.
The LG department has great importance as it is responsible for running the affairs of the district governments of the provinces. Given the state of affairs of Karachi and Hyderabad in particular and the political landscape of the province in general, having this department in its hands could help any party in the upcoming general elections.
After Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was removed from the premiership, the ruling PPP required the support of its coalition partners to get Raja Pervez Ashraf elected as the new prime minister. However, the coalition partners – particularly the MQM and PML(Q) – tabled a number of demands to the PPP in return for their support. The PML(Q) got the slot of deputy premier while the MQM put before the PPP leadership the demands of the Sindh home ministry, control of the local government department, release of additional funds for Karachi and Hyderabad districts etc, insiders told Pakistan Today.
As far as these demands by the MQM are concerned, there was consultation amongst the PPP leadership and there was clear consensus that the home ministry could not be given to the MQM as this move could have a decisive impact on the upcoming elections. However, the party leadership gave a green signal to President Asif Zardari to allot the slot of LG secretary to the MQM by appointing its blue-eyed bureaucrat Lala Fazalur Rehman to the post, the sources added.
As the tenure of the Local Bodies expired in 2010, the MQM had suggested Lala Fazal as administrator for Karachi and Aftab Khatri as administrator for Hyderabad so that the party could have a strong grip on the administration of these major metropolises. However, these officials were later removed from their positions as the disputes between PPP and MQM heated up.