- PPP co-chairman Zardari telephones MQM’s Altaf, seeks to move beyond ‘mistakes committed in the past’
- Rehman Malik claims MQM to soon rejoin PPP in Sindh govt, become ally in Senate
- MQM’s Babar Ghauri confirms contacts but says no agreement reached as yet between both parties
There were signs of a thaw in relations between erstwhile allies – the Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement – on Saturday after top leaders of the two parties spoke on the telephone late on Friday to discuss ways on decreasing tensions and paving the way for restoration of their alliance in Sindh, with special focus on the upcoming Senate elections.
Talking to reporters, PPP Senator Rehman Malik claimed that the MQM has agreed in principle to join the Sindh government and that both the parties would also be allies in the Senate.
He said that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had telephoned MQM chief Altaf Hussain and asked him to put bitterness of the past behind and look forward to a new partnership between the two leading parties.
“On the directives of Asif Zardari, I am leaving for London to meet Altaf Hussain”, Malik said.
On the other hand, MQM leader Babar Ghauri denied reaching any agreement with the PPP, saying the media would be informed if any progress takes place in this regard. He said the MQM would take decision in the largest interest of the people of Sindh and urban population of the province.
Ghauri said after a long time a contact was made between MQM and PPP on Friday night, adding that PPP chief Zardari will direct his party leadership to hold talks with the MQM leadership.
“Altaf Hussain has informed Zardari about the conspiracy being hatched to push MQM against the wall,” the MQM leader said, adding that MQM’s doors are open for all political parties and all the issues would be resolved if the PPP approaches them with a sincere intention.
Meanwhile, a statement released by the MQM early on Saturday said that Altaf Hussain and Asif Zardari agreed that Pakistan and Sindh currently required tranquillity, brotherhood, and harmony within all segments of society for progress and prosperity. “Zardari and Hussain discussed issues between the PPP and MQM and the mistakes made in the past. They resolved not to repeat those mistakes in future. The PPP chief acknowledged that Urdu-speakers have as much a right on Sindh as Sindhi speakers do and assured the MQM that their genuine grievances will be addressed,” said the statement.
The statement said that Zardari had assured the MQM chief that if the two parties once again agreed to work together in Sindh, then the 40:60 ratio will be implemented in all spheres of governance in essence and spirit.
ZARDARI CALLS SHUJAAT:
In a related development, Zardari also telephoned Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and sought cooperation in the Senate elections.
Sources said that Zardari stressed on contesting the polls together to which Shujaat agreed and said that the two leaders should meet and devise a strategy in this regard.
