Parties yet to get their head down

KARACHI - The key component of the ruling coalition government, both in Sindh and the Centre - - Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have not yet finalised their schedule to sit together to sort out differences that have the potential to harm the coalition, TheNation learnt on Friday. MQM, an ally of the PPP-led ruling coalition, has traded a war of words with the PPP, because of its stated differences on the issue of the National Reconciliation Ordinance-2007 (NRO). In retaliation, the PPP leaders also gave a tit-for-tat response and unveiled a list of the beneficiaries of the NRO in which MQM benefited the most as compared to all other parties. Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza who had warned the MQM of reopening of their cases that were annulled due to amnesty under the NRO and cited more than 3,500 criminal cases were closed benefited from NRO, the exchange of hot words had burning the situation and creating rifts between the two coalition parties. The meeting of Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik with the MQM chief has helped put a halt to statements against each others from both the parties and a silence is being observed from both sides since the PPPs leaders staged a public meeting near the mausoleum of founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik also has met Altaf Hussain in London but that moot also made no further breakthrough. The MQMs office-bearer said that situation hadnt return to normalcy because apple of discord remained there. The Nation talked to some office-bearers of the MQM on the issue who disclosed here that the intra-coalition differences had not yet resolved as political cease-fire dictated by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and President of Pakistan Asif Zardari who is co-chairman of the PPP. It is learnt that the MQM leadership wants the government to announce the date of local bodies elections, proper share in the government, jobs in the government departments and the partys involvement in the decision-making. MQM Rabita Committee member Waseem Aftab told The Nation that both the parties have decided to resolve their issue through negotiations, saying that the meeting of both the parties core committee would hold soon to sort out differences. He said that difference of opinion was the part of democracy but both coalition the parties were agreed to work with each other for the prosperity and development of Pakistan and Sindh province. He accepted that the schedule of meeting between the parties to sort out issues have not been finalized yet but hoped that the meeting will hold soon at the high level to address all the issues. He said that they are an ally of the set up and wants the government to complete its five years tenure. Though MQM leaders are tight-lipped, and they revealed that the issues were remained unresolved and they have not yet received any signal from the PPPs side to hold meeting to address the differences.

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