ISLAMABAD – The MQM through its recent series of parleys with some political forces in and outside the parliament is dropping a hint for ruling coalition leader PPP that it is paving way for getting larger support on certain issues and looking for forging electoral alliances as the elections seem around the corner.
The MQM in a week held important meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), PML-Q, Awami National Party (ANP)and Awami Muslim League (AML). Having some specific agenda about the solution to law and order situation in the country especially in Karachi, sources said, the MQM in its meetings with coalition partners is also seeking their full support on dual nationality bill.
MQM is keen to get the dual nationally bill passed from the parliament as some of party’s important legislators are dual nationals who face disqualification threat. Muttahida decided to talk directly to allies over this and certain other issues after observing a cold response from the PPP, said sources.
The MQM Wednesday held a meeting with another important ally, the ANP, to discuss host of issues including law and order situation in Karachi. Both the coalition partners agreed to evolve a joint strategy for bringing peace in Karachi. It was decided to take strict action against the criminals sans any discrimination. The ANP also accepted MQM’s offer to visit its headquarters Nine Zero for further discussions.
Political pundits observed the reason behind this harmonious posture and unanimity on taking action against criminals was to give an impression to the people that the two parties are serious about bringing peace to the city, as the general elections are not too far.
In its meeting with ANP at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, the MQM delegation headed by Dr Farooq Sattar also tried to convince ANP members on the need for a roundtable conference to resolve all issues related to security. A couple of days ago an MQM delegation had also met President Zardari proposing to call a national roundtable conference.
This week, the MQM legislators also approached Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Awami Mulism League (AML) and discussed various issues including law and order situation, upcoming elections and other matters. Sources said that that the MQM its meeting with PML-Q chief also sought his party’s support over the dual nationality bill.
However, when contacted, MQM senior CEC member Zahid Malik said that the real purpose of these meetings was to convince other political forces about the need of the roundtable conference. “The country is facing enormous challenges so all the political and other leadership should sit together to resolve these issues,” he added. He insisted that dual nationality bill was not the main purpose of these meetings.