By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
KARACHI: In what is being described here as an attempt to firm up its alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement before the expiry of a PML-N deadline, a high-level delegation of the PPP, comprising both hawks and doves, paid a visit to the MQM headquarters on Friday and reiterated its pledge to take their censorious ally along “for strengthening the country and democracy”.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad accompanied the delegation. Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also took along Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza, whose vitriolic attacks on the MQM had created a political crisis. Many were caught by surprise when they saw Dr Mirza at Nine Zero.
Scores of MQM workers welcomed the PPP leaders who held a meeting with members of Muttahida’s coordination committee and also spoke to its chief Altaf Hussain on phone.
An MQM press release said Mr Hussain told the PPP delegation that the government would complete its term if the alliance between the two parties continued.
He asked the provincial ministers belonging to the MQM to consider themselves a part of the chief minister’s team and requested Mr Shah to take them along. He requested the chief minister to solve the problems being faced by MQM ministers, saying it was necessary for democracy. Mr Shah assured the MQM chief that he would take measures to resolve the issues of the ministers.
Talking to Mr Hussain, according to the press release, Dr Mirza said he felt at home at the MQM headquarters. The unity demonstrated by President Asif Ali Zardari and Mr Hussain was in the interest of Sindh and Pakistan, he said.
Later, representatives of both sides talked to journalists. Referring to the presence of the home minister, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the meeting would send a message to opponents.
Terming the visit a goodwill gesture, he said that it had been made possible because of the vision of the MQM chief and the PPP co-chairman, President Zardari.
Recalling the first visit by President Zardari to the place in 2008 when the MQM and the PPP had vowed to forgive and forget the past, Dr Sattar said: “We had made some promises nearly three years ago and today is the day to renew those pledges and to bridge the gap between us.”
The chief minister said: “We will continue to cooperate with each other to solve the problems of the people of Sindh.”
Although the tough-talking Dr Mirza chose not to speak much before the media, a visibly happy Interior Minister Malik said that the “future belongs to the PPP and the MQM”.
He lauded the efforts made by Mr Hussain, President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to strengthen democracy and said the relationship between them would be strengthened.
Relying to a question, he said stern action should be taken against criminals even if they were hiding in the ranks of the MQM.
The minister said the Raymond Davis issue was pending in a court and “let the court decide about it”.
Source: Dawn
Date:2/19/2011
