Gilani asks MQM to rejoin cabinet
By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
KARACHI: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday took Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain into confidence about talks with the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Q and asked him to rejoin the federal cabinet “for stability of the country”.
Mr Gilani telephoned Mr Hussain to express his condolence over the killing of MQM leader Liaquat Qureshi, who was shot dead on Friday. However, the prime minister turned the occasion into an opportunity by formally inviting the MQM to rejoin the federal cabinet, which it had quit on Dec 27.
A spokesman for MQM told Dawn that Mr Gilani said the MQM should rejoin the federal cabinet for improving the situation and bringing stability to the country.
“Mr Hussain told the prime minister that he will ask the MQM coordination committee to look into it,” he added.
Informed sources in the MQM said that the PPP and the MQM were on the same page about the likely inclusion of the PML-Q in the federal cabinet. “Mr Hussain expressed his satisfaction when Mr Gilani informed him that talks with the Q-League are heading in a positive direction,” the sources said.
While confirming the prime minister`s offer, Dr Farooq Sattar told newsmen after the Soyem of Liaquat Qureshi on Sunday that his party believed that resolving public problems was a much more important task than rejoining the federal cabinet.
“We have told them (the PPP) our viewpoint and they must have to resolve public issues…the government has assured us that prices of petroleum products will be reduced,” he said. The sources said that although some MQM leaders were not in favour of rejoining the cabinet, the party leadership believed that under the prevailing circumstances the MQM should do so.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/2/2011
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