Terming the language used by Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Deputy Convener Khalid Maqbool against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as “unfortunate”, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon Sunday said that MQM’s decision to part ways with PPP had surprised him.
Addressing a press conference in the city following MQM’s decision to withdraw its support from the Sindh government, Memon said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s speech was being “misrepresented”.
“Bilawal invited MQM to move along and Khursheed Shah had publicly apologized for his remarks. We can reply to MQM’s criticism in a befitting way but we will not opt for that because PPP still believes in reconciliation,” he said, adding that Bilawal had expressed “love” in his speech as opposed to hatred and they were expecting that MQM will not take any emotional decisions.
Terming MQM’s allegations as baseless, Memon said that Bilawal had invited all political parties to join hands and work together for the sake of democracy, setting aside bitterness of the past. “We hope that parties will respond to Bilawal’s invitation soon.”
Memon added that statements which had already been clarified should not be opted for picking a bone. He said that MQM chief had once remarked that “Sindhis used to polish shoes of Hindus” while Waseem Akhtar had said that ‘mujras’ (indecent dances) were the order of every house in the Punjab. However, no clarification came from MQM on these statements, he added.