MQM decides to rejoin govt
By Shamim-ur-Rahman
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement announced here on Wednesday that it had decided to rejoin the PPP-led coalition government at the centre.
The announcement was made after extensive talks between Interior Minister Rehman Malik and senior MQM leaders, at which decisions taken earlier in such meetings were fine-tuned, a source said.
Talking to journalists at the Governor’s House, MQM’s deputy convener Farooq Sattar said the decision had been taken “in the interest of the country” and on the basis of guidelines given by the party’s coordination committee meeting held in Karachi and London.
Dr Sattar said his party had conveyed to Mr Malik its concerns over the state of the economy, law and order, prolonged loadshedding and the high rate of unemployment. He said the MQM had been assured by the minister that all its concerns would be addressed “at the earliest”.
He praised the role played by Mr Malik in “preventing the widening of gulf between the two parties”.
The minister praised what he called the foresight of MQM chief Altaf Hussain in tackling issues of national importance.
He said the induction of MQM ministers would make the already strong coalition even stronger, and enable it to serve the masses with renewed vigour.
Mr Malik said the law and order situation and the state of the economy were of prime concern to the government and for that reason it sought cooperation from all concerned.
Earlier, talking to media personnel at Karachi airport, he said Osama bin Laden and his accomplices were involved in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
“I appeal to the nation to stand united as it did during the 1965 war against India,” he said, adding that the country was in a state of war.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/5/2011
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