MQM, PML-N break the ice
By Murtaza Ali Shah and Dilshad Azeem
LONDON: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tentatively broke the ice when Dr Farooq Sattar and Shahbaz Sharif met here on Monday.
Sattar, who is the Deputy Convenor of the MQM Coordination Committee and the party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, met the Punjab chief minister, who is on an official visit to the UK, in the House of Commons.
Later, talking to The News, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah described the meeting as “very cordial” and said the two leaders “exchanged views on Pakistan’s current political situation.”
Sanaullah, urging the MQM to work with his party to root out corruption from Pakistan, said both sides agreed that the current government’s corruption was the biggest threat facing the country. When asked about their past acrimony, the law minister agreed that differences between the MQM and PML-N did exist and it would be naive to say that all was hunky-dory. However, he added that dialogue must continue no matter what the differences were.
“We can always agree to disagree but in politics, dialogue must continue. We can have reservations about each other but still continue talking to each other over issues of national importance. Right now, the need for a dialogue among all parties is more important than at any other time because Pakistan faces a threat from within: at the hands of the federal government,” Sanaullah said.
He said there was complete unanimity that the present set up was wrought with incompetence and was clueless about its future direction. “Not only (the) MQM and (the) PML-N but every patriotic party (was) concerned about the dire situation of the country and they should come together to take a firm stand against the loot and plunder of a few,” he said.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman is all set to rush for the UK today (Tuesday) from Pakistan amid efforts to form a grand opposition alliance with MQM Chief Altaf Hussain and PML-N’s Shahbaz Sharif who is already in London.
The Maulana got his visa clearance here on Monday and earlier held telephonic conversations with Altaf Hussain. He has also held meetings with PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat since the MQM said its goodbyes to the PPP.
“Yes, he has obtained visa clearance,” a central JUI-F leader told The News. Fazl will be in London on a 10-day visit covering an official programme on the first day; the rest of his nine days will be dedicated to the JUI-F London chapter and private, political engagements.
A meeting with MQM boss Altaf Hussain, PML-N’s Shahbaz Sharif and other opposition members presently in the UK cannot be ruled out though they are not yet on the agenda. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri is also among those invited for the London programme organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), The News has learnt.
“I have yet to decide whether to go with the Maulana or not, since there are party responsibilities in Pakistan too,” Haideri, Leader of the Opposition in Senate, said. “Under existing circumstances, we think the opposition must establish an alliance at least for a common agenda.”
Haideri has already indicated that he will be positive, even on the issue of the opposition leader’s slot that he holds in senate – if the PML-N shows flexibility and welcomes the opposition parties for a stronger alliance. “It is premature to say that the alliance would be aiming at toppling the government but again, I would like to say that all depends on the PML-N and its behaviour.”
Online adds from Dubai: Ishaq Dar has met Farooq Sattar against the background of news about forming a grand opposition alliance. This is the first contact between the two parties after the political divorce between MQM and the ruling PPP, a source said on Monday.
According to media reports, both leaders met in Dubai as Sattar was on his way to London. Ishaq Dar and Faroq Sattar agreed to make further contacts, source said.
Source: The News
Date:7/5/2011
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