KARACHI: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Wednesday invited Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain to return to Pakistan.

The prime minister talked to Altaf Hussain by telephone during his visit to Nine-Zero in Azizabad. Prime minister-in-waiting Shaukat Aziz, Federal Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq, PML Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain, the Sindh governor and the chief minister accompanied the prime minister.

"Altaf Hussain congratulated me, Shaukat Aziz and others and I told him we will accept your congratulation if you (Altaf) give us a prize by announcing your return. Your congratulation will remain pending till that time," Shujaat told newsmen after meeting Muttahida leaders.

Shujaat did not elaborate when repeatedly asked whether the government had taken arrangements for a safe return of Altaf Hussain. Shujaat said that as per discipline, he would hand over powers to Shaukat Aziz when he would win the bye-election. Replying to a question about a ban on the entry of two MMA leaders into Sindh, he said: "The ban will continue."

Shaukat Aziz said that he was impressed with the warm welcome given by the Muttahida workers and leaders. He promised that he would lead Pakistan towards the path of prosperity. Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim also spoke on the occasion. In charge Muttahida Coordination Committee Anwar Alam thanked the prime minister, Shaukat Aziz and others for visiting Nine-Zero. Earlier, a large number of people, including women and children, welcomed Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat, Shaukat Aziz and others.

KARACHI, July 7: Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said here on Wednesday it would be a biggest gift for 'all of us' if Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain returned to Pakistan.

He was speaking during a visit to the MQM headquarters at Nine Zero for talks with Muttahida leaders. He said: "We all have to work jointly for the development and prosperity of Pakistan".

Addressing a gathering, he said: "We have talked with Altaf Hussain by phone who expressed gratitude for the visit, and he accepted his greetings with the condition that he should give us a gift by returning to Pakistan."

The prime minister said his first priority was law and order and for this purpose he drew criticism of his party for having invited the PPP to form government in Sindh, but the PPP did not pay any heed to his offer.

Chaudhry Shujaat said the law and order situation was now improving in Sindh. There would be differences of opinion in the government and among parties, but decisions should always be taken with consensus.

The prime minister said that the ban imposed by the Sindh government on the entry of leaders because of law and order issue would remain effective. Finance Minister and the prime minister-in-waiting Shaukat Aziz said that he had visited the MQM headquarters for the first time and he would never forget the affection and love with which he had been welcomed here.

He said he had his early education in Karachi and would meet the coming challenges jointly. "Insha Allah, we would take Pakistan to a stage where everyone would be proud of it."

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad said that all national leaders had always received love and cooperation at Nine Zero. Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim said he was "grateful to Altaf Bhai for his full cooperation" in his nomination as the chief minister and he would serve the people of Sindh along with the governor.

Incharge of the Muttahida Coordination Committee Anwar Alam also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, talking to a group of journalists after a dinner hosted by Governor Ishratul Ibad at the Governor's House, Chaudhry Shujaat said that the warm welcome accorded to him during his visit to the interior of Sindh on Wednesday had dispelled an impression that Sindh was against the Punjab and the army.

"Today's public meeting was its proof. Whenever mention was made of President Musharraf and the army in speeches, the crowd responded with standing ovation." Responding to a question about the law and order situation, he said he did not believe in interfering in matters of others.

It was always better that people assigned to do a job were allowed to discharge their responsibility. "We should carry out responsibilities with consensus and now the law and order is improving."

He said he would offer to join hands even with the People's Party in resolving this issue. Regarding the by-elections in Attock and Tharparkar, he expressed his belief that the results from both constituencies would be above everybody's expectations.

He offered to provide all possible facilities to national and international media to monitor the fairness of the August 18 by-election in Tharparker and Attock. He said the problems in Sindh could not be solved overnight.

The PML has worked out a strategy in this regard and Mr Aziz would address people's problems and ensure progress and good governance. The results, he said, would be visible in the next elections.

When his attention was drawn to an ultimatum given by the MQM to the government, the prime minister said that complaints and differences of opinion should not be called ultimatum.

When asked about expansion of his cabinet, Chaudhry Shujaat said he would hand over the 'Amanat' to Mr Aziz after August 18, and he would take a decision about it. Mr Aziz told newsmen that he was aware of the problems of the rural areas and after visiting Mirpurkhas, Tharparker and Sanghar he was of the view that a lot of work was to be done.

Earlier, Acting President Muhammadmian Soomro, Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat and Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad held a meeting which was attended also by Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim and Mr Aziz.

The governor briefed them on the situation in Sindh and measures being taken for development and industrialization. He thanked the prime minister for starting his mass contact drive from Karachi.