President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday arrived here on a
private-cum-official tour till July 1, and was likely to meet MQM
leader Altaf Hussain to remove frictions that forced coalition partner
to boycott AJK elections.
According to well-placed sources, the
President’s official visit to UK would start from June 29, and before
that he would stay in London in private capacity to take stock of his
personal and political matters.
“On top of President Zardari’s
political agenda in London would be a probable meeting with Altaf
Hussain, the MQM leader in exile here,” a source close to the President
told Online on condition of anonymity. “He would try to appease the MQM
sentiments boiling once again after it had to boycott elections
following postponement of polls in three AJK constituencies; reserved
two in Karachi and one in Abottabad,” the sources added. After the
rapprochement earlier this year, the MQM has once again threatened to
quit the government. There were reports from back home that ministers
and other functionaries belonging to MQM have handed over their
resignations to the Parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar. According to
the reports, the final decision to quit the ruling coalition would be
taken after the Rabita Committee of the MQM.
During his
official engagements, the President is likely to meet British Prime
Minister David Cameroon to hold both one on one and delegation level
talks on issues of bilateral interest. On top of agenda of President’s
discussions with authorities in London would be the peace process in
Afghanistan and Pakistan’s critical role in it. The President was also
likely to seek British support for a parallel reconciliation with
militants in Pakistan as against the do more mantra of US.
The
President would finalize modalities for taking the bilateral trade to
Pounds Sterling 2.5 billion by 2015 a pledge Cameroon and his
counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani had jontly made in Islamabad earlier this
year. Moreover, the President would follow up on UK’s promised support
to Pakistan’s market access to the European Union. President Zardari
would also hold meetings with Pakistani communities living in the UK
including business communities. Online
