KARACHI - Led by former interior minister Rehman Malik, a Pakistan People’s Party delegation visited Nine-Zero – MQM headquarters – on Sunday to invite Muttahida leaders to join the provincial government of Sindh.
PPP delegates, including Pir Mazharul Haq and Makhdoom Jameel, held negotiations with MQM leaders over various issues, including appointment of opposition leader in the National Assembly, law and order situation in Karachi city and Balochistan, local bodies system.
Kunwar Naveed Jameel, Ashfaq Mangi, Khalid Sultan, Adil Khan, Mian Ateeq, Dr Farooq Sattar, Faisal Sabzwari Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Engineer Nasir Jamal and Sardar Ahmed represented MQM.
During the extended meeting, the PPP informally invited the MQM to be partners again in the Sindh government. Although the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere, the MQM expressed its reservations over the PPP government’s inability to carry out action against Lyari gangsters.
According to reports, the PPP delegation assured the MQM that its concerns would be addressed and asked it to join the provincial government as the PPP believes in the policy of reconciliation.
MQM leaders informed Rehman Malik that party’s coordination committee would make a decision after discussing the issue with party workers.
Addressing a joint news conference after the meeting, Malik said MQM and PPP must work together to improve current law and order situation in Karachi. Admiring efforts of President Asif Ali Zardari and Altaf Hussain for continuity of democracy in the country, Malik said both the leaders played a vital role for peaceful transition of power in Pakistan.
Rejecting any relation with the banned People’s Aman Committee, Malik said the party condemned every act of violence and never patronised any criminal groups. He however vowed to operate against drugs mafia, land mafia and criminals groups operating in Karachi.
“I invite MQM to join government to serve people of Sindh,” he said and added that Pakistan could not afford politics of confrontation.
Malik dubbed the ongoing killing spree in Karachi as random killing and said MQM workers were being killed on daily basis. He said that the PPP-MQM alliance was needed to maintain peace in Karachi.
Pir Mazharul Haq said PPP and MQM had sacrificed a lot for the sake of democracy and reconciliation was needed more than ever. He said the works that were not done during the last government would be accomplished jointly by PPP and MQM in the current regime at the provincial level.
MQM deputy convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that “we have informed PPP leaders about MQM’s concerns and a decision would be taken soon after consultation with party workers”. He said MQM’s doors were open and it would support every act that would empower democracy in the country. He said the party had deep concerns over targeted killing and abductions of party workers.
Expressing similar views, Siddiqui further said no matter where MQM sit in Parliament it would always work in favour of the country.
Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Former Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik Sunday briefed the President Asif Ali Zardari about his talks with MQM Rabita Committee.
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians has offered MQM to join the Sindh government. According to the informed sources, Malik briefed the President about the MQM's response to PPPP's offer to join the provincial government.