ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari succeeded, yet again, in securing a temporary reprieve from his restless ally, the MQM, after extending assurances to the MQM supremo Altaf Hussain to address all his grievances, it was learnt. The two leaders agreed to convene a meeting of the provincial leaders of the PPP and MQM within a week to thrash out all the outstanding differences between the uneasy coalition partners.
The week-long truce came about at the fag end of an over two-hour-long meeting between the president and a four-member delegation of the MQM, led by Dr Farooq Sattar, wherein the delegation discussed the Karachi situation with particular reference to the recent events that had created tension between the coalition partners, starting with the latest speech of Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza.
According to sources, no real headway was made till the dying moments of the meeting when finally the president bent over backwards to placate the MQM and had a telephonic conversation with Altaf Hussain in London. Taking notice of the recent developments in Karachi and the issues raised by the delegation, the Co-chairman PPP President Asif Ali Zardari assured the members that he will convene a meeting of the governor Sindh, chief minister Sindh and provincial leaders of the party to sort out the issues raised by the MQM delegation.
President Zardari said that the meeting will be convened within a week to discuss the issues raised by the delegation. He also assured that criminal elements will be curbed with an iron hand and every citizen of Karachi will be provided security. President Zardari assured that no criminal would be allowed to seek shelter behind political faÁade of any sort. He said that political forces should also be watchful and guard against elements seeking to drive a wedge between them and creating conditions of anarchy.
The MQM delegation thanked the co-chairman PPP. The meeting lasted for about two hours and continued till past midnight. The MQM members of the delegation included Senator Babar Ghauri, Raza Haroon and Dr. Saghir Ahmed. Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present during the meeting.
The News
The week-long truce came about at the fag end of an over two-hour-long meeting between the president and a four-member delegation of the MQM, led by Dr Farooq Sattar, wherein the delegation discussed the Karachi situation with particular reference to the recent events that had created tension between the coalition partners, starting with the latest speech of Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza.
According to sources, no real headway was made till the dying moments of the meeting when finally the president bent over backwards to placate the MQM and had a telephonic conversation with Altaf Hussain in London. Taking notice of the recent developments in Karachi and the issues raised by the delegation, the Co-chairman PPP President Asif Ali Zardari assured the members that he will convene a meeting of the governor Sindh, chief minister Sindh and provincial leaders of the party to sort out the issues raised by the MQM delegation.
President Zardari said that the meeting will be convened within a week to discuss the issues raised by the delegation. He also assured that criminal elements will be curbed with an iron hand and every citizen of Karachi will be provided security. President Zardari assured that no criminal would be allowed to seek shelter behind political faÁade of any sort. He said that political forces should also be watchful and guard against elements seeking to drive a wedge between them and creating conditions of anarchy.
The MQM delegation thanked the co-chairman PPP. The meeting lasted for about two hours and continued till past midnight. The MQM members of the delegation included Senator Babar Ghauri, Raza Haroon and Dr. Saghir Ahmed. Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar were also present during the meeting.
The News
