From Our Correspondent
Lahore/Karachi: In Karachi the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) hold dialogue over political situation while in Lahore Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jahangir Tareen group hold similar talks on Monday.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have “reached an understanding” and decided to work together in the greater interest of the country, a PPP spokesperson said in an official statement on Monday.
The decision was made in a meeting between PPP leadership, including party chairmen Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and a delegation from the MQM-P.
The two parties discussed the current political situation in the country, the PPP spokesperson said.
“PPP agreed to all of MQM-P’s points of concern,” the statement said.
The MQM-P is yet to comment on this development.
Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani and senior leader Sharjeel Memon also participated from the PPP side.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Amin-ul-Haque, convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, senior deputy convener Amir Khan, Wasim Akhtar, Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hasan and Javed Hanif were part of the MQM-P delegation.
The MQM-P and PPP’s “agreement” comes amid a no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly. Both the ruling PTI and the opposition alliance have been trying to woo the MQM-P, whose seven seats could prove crucial in determining whether the prime minister retains his position or the opposition manages to de-seat him.
‘Options are open’
Last week, Prime Minister Imran had visited Karachi to hold meetings with the leadership of MQM-P and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), allies of his government in the Centre.
The Prime Minister’s Office had said the premier discussed the current political situation with the MQM-P leaders, who in turn assured him of full support.
Responding to a question later on whether the MQM-P was supporting the no-trust move, party leader Amir Khan had said MQM-P was an ally of the government “but our options are open”.
Another attempt by the PTI to woo the MQM-P came on Sunday when Sindh Governor Imran Ismail with his key aides visited the MQM-P headquarters in Bahadurabad. After almost an hour-long meeting, both sides sounded positive while interacting with the media but their thoughts clearly indicated that nothing conclusive had emerged in their discussion.
The MQM-P kept its cards close to its chest keeping all “options” open for the crucial parliamentary process, saying it would take a decision only “in line with national and party interest”.
Earlier today, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the PTI had complete trust in its allies in the Centre — Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), MQM-P, Grand Democratic Alliance and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
“I have been constantly saying and will repeat today that I, as a political worker, believe that all our allies … [are with us and] and my party and I have complete faith in them.
“We believe they are very refined and honourable people. They have supported us at various points in these three years and we were, are and will remain thankful to them,” the foreign minister said.
Meanwhile, The Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz on Monday has reached Jahangir Tareen’s residence to hold a meeting with the like-minded group ahead of no-confidence motion.
The members of the Jahangir Tareen group, Awn Chaudhry and others have welcomed Hamza Shehbaz upon his arrival to hold a meeting ahead of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
During the meeting, Hamza Shehbaz and the members of the Jahangir Tareen group exchanged views on the current political situation.
Sources closer to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) told that the Tareen group had requested the meeting with Hamza Shehbaz to hold discussions on the political scenario.
Sources added that the political party will proceed with the talks after listening to the stance of the Tareen group.
Tareen group’s consultative session
Amid back-to-back political developments, the members of the Jahangir Tareen group held an important consultative session at Tareen’s residence today.
The consultative session was attended by Ishaq Khakwani, Awn Chaudry, MPA Salman Naeem, Saeed Akbar Noorani, MPA Abdul Haye Dasti, Ajmal Cheema, Malik Nauman Langrial, Faisal Jabboana, MPA Lala Tahir Randhawa and others.
Awn Chaudry briefed the group members regarding the contacts with the government ally, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) over the no-confidence motion and other political matters.
Chaudry said that the lawmakers of the Jahangir Tareen group are united and Tareen will personally lead the political matters after returning home in a few days.
