MQM’S COMMUNIQUE OVER MEETING OF ITS DELEGATION WITH THE PRESIDENT

KARACHI: 8^TH MARCH 2011

A four-member delegation of Muttahida Quami Movement comprising Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar, members Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Raza Haroon, and parliamentary leader of the MQM in the Senate Babar Ghori met President Asif Zardari in the president house. The delegation informed the president about the MQM’s strong reservations over the statement of Home Minister of Sindh Dr Zulfikar Mirza. Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik and spokesman of the president Farhatualla Babar were also present from the PPP side. The meeting lasted for more than three hours and continued late in the night.

The MQM leaders informed the president about the increasing sense of insecurity present in the citizens of Karachi in consequence of collection of extortion money by criminal elements by sending slips to traders, businessmen, shopkeepers and artists. They also informed him about the mounting concerns of the people in view of the increasing incidents of robberies, killings and other criminal activities in Karachi.

The President heard MQM’s reservation with seriousness and expressed his concerns over the unbridled activities of the terrorists. He assured the MQM delegation that their reservations will be removed and indiscriminate action will be taken against the criminal elements. He promised that the traders, businessmen, shopkeepers and artists will be protected and the criminal elements will be dealt with an iron hand.

The President also talked with MQM Founder and Leader Mr Altaf Hussain during the meeting on telephone and gave assurance that the reservations of the MQM will be removed. He told him that he will convene a meeting of provincial ministers of Sindh and party leadership which will also be attended by Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah in order to remove the reservations of the MQM. The Co-ordination Committee of the MQM has decided that it will persist with its principled stance till such time that the reservations of the party are removed.