Ashraf ‘to soon write to Opp leader over interim setup’

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said on Wednesday that he would soon be writing a letter to the leader of opposition to formally broach the subject of forming a caretaker government.
Ashraf reportedly said this in a telephonic conversation he held with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday, a statement released by the party said.
The two discussed the political situation in the country including the caretaker government that will take over after the term of the incumbent government is due to end on March. Ashraf told Altaf all allies will be consulted for finalising the name of a caretaker prime minister and that the matter will be resolved through consensus.
The prime minister said everyone wants for elections to be free, fair and transparent and for the election commission to be independent.
Altaf Hussain in his talk with the prime minister highlighted that the deputed police force was grossly insufficient and disproportionate to the rapidly increasing population in the country. In order to clamp down on terrorism and to improve law and order situation in the country, he suggested that police officers should be recruited on an emergency basis and better equip them to deal with the challenges.
Earlier talking to a private TV channel, Prime Minister Ashraf said the government would ensure an interim setup which is acceptable to all.
Calling the MQM the government’s best ally, Ashraf said he had sent a goodwill message to Altaf soon after landing in London.
The prime minister said for the first time in the country’s history, a government was nearing completion of its five-year tenure. He said the continuation of democracy could be ensured only through free and fair elections.
Ashraf dismissed a news report published in a section of the press that a very expensive suit gad been bought for him from Harrods for his meeting with the British prime minister. “For the meeting [with the British prime minister], I wore my two-year old suit and my four-year-old pair of shoes, the same which I am wearing right now,” he said, pointing to his attire.