ISLAMABAD - Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said Altaf Hussain's speech hurt the feelings of millions of Pakistanis and it would be better for the present Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leadership to distance it from the militant element in the party.
"The announcement made by Dr Farooq Sattar feels appropriate by the time. It can be stated as a right decision in right direction though it needs further clarity. But, any party having representation in the Parliament should distance from militancy," he said in a private news channel programme.
The minister said if the MQM ensured to distance from the militant element then the political parties in the country and the civil society would help them to play a role for the masses welfare.
"If the umbrella under which the militant element was functioning is no more there and militancy is shunned, it will be better for the MQM."
The minister said the government had tried to bring the MQM to table for resolving their issues and it was mutually agreed that the MQM leadership would meet the Prime Minister on Thursday and submit their complaints.
He said his meeting with the MQM leaders had ended on a positive note but afterwards the party workers stormed the media houses and went on rampage. "When I contacted Farooq Sattar on this issue, he was dejected and perplexed. After this situation no further contact was made from either side."
When asked any contact would be made after the press conference of Dr Farooq Sattar, he said it would be appropriate to wait for some time. "It is not yet clear. May be the party workers exert pressure on these leaders about their same leader whom they used to defend earlier."
Pervaiz Rashid said since 1970 till to date a number of elections were contested by regional parties in South Punjab but none of them was voted to power. "People in Punjab always showed unity despite their varying cultures and traditions."
The minister said the PML-N believed in devolution of power as the local government system ensured facilities to the masses at their doorstep. But unfortunately the local government system was used in the past as an alternative political system.
He said the PML-N believed in the welfare of people all over the country and the dividends of its policies were ensured for the people in all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA and Azad Kashmir.
He said in 2018 elections the party would seek votes on the basis of its performance and not by doing narrow politics and alleging others. "We shall go to every province with our development model of Punjab and it will be the decision of people to vote for us or not."
He said the benefits of power projects, Gawadar Port and motorways would reach to people across Pakistan. "Let us focus on the masses welfare instead of blaming each other and then leave the decision to the people."