Tareen-led PTI delegation invites MQM to join fed govt

• Rabita Committee will make final decision, says MQM Convenver Siddiqui
• MQM ‘demands’ Karachi package, stronger local bodies system, Urban Sindh admin units, mass transit
• PTI will resolve Karachi’s water, transport, infrastructure issues, says Tareen

KARACHI: A Jahangir Tareen-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation has sought the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) support to form the federal government.

MQM Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Tuesday announced that the MQM Rabita Committee will take a final decision regarding PTI’s invitation to join the federal government.

The meeting was held at MQM’s Bahadurabad office and PTI leaders Firdaus Shamim Naqvi, Imran Ismail and Haleem Adil Siddiqui were also present.

In a press conference after the meeting, Tareen said, “To move forward we have to think of the masses and it is in PTI’s manifesto to resolve basic issues of Karachi.”

“We will resolve water, transport and infrastructural issues of the city,” he added.

The MQM convener said, “It is a pleasant surprise for us that we have commonalities and we have an agreement over creating a strong and independent local bodies system.”

“We spoke on the re-counting and census issues in our meeting and PTI Chairman Imran Khan has already said that he would address reservations of the people regarding election results,” Siddiqui added.

MQM’s demands, before it can accept PTI’s offer, reportedly includes a Karachi package, constitutional amendment in favour of empowered local bodies, administrative units for the urban Sindh, community police and mass transit in Karachi.