MQM delegation calls on President Asif Zardari in Bilawal House
Law and order situation in Karachi, Local Government System and working relationship
between MQM and PPP came under discussion
Karachi: 23rd July 2012
President Asif Zardari has said that the process of dialogue with all political and allied parties on the national security and all other issues would continue. He commended the suggestion of convening a round table conference from the MQM and extended his support for the idea.
The president asked Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to call a round table conference on all national issues in order to formulate a comprehensive strategy for future by consulting with all political forces. He said this in a meeting with the MQM delegation in presidential camp office Bilawal House in Karachi.
The MQM delegation was being led by the deputy convener of the Co-ordination Committee Dr Farooq Sattar. Other members of the delegation included Senator Mrs Nasrin Jalil, Federal Minister Babar Khan Ghouri, Provincial Ministers Mr Adil Siddiqui, Mr Raza Haroon and Dr Sagheer Ahmed.
The delegation informed President Zardari about the threats to the national security expressed by Mr Altaf Hussain. Political situation in the country, the law and order situation in Karachi and local government system and the working relationship between the MQM and the PPP were also discussed during the meeting.
President Zardari said that the MQM had always supported the PPP for the stability of democracy in the country. He said that he valued the services of Mr Hussain for furthering democracy. He further said that the alliance between the PPP and the MQM would be further strengthened and the two parties would continue their work for the progress of the country and prosperity of the people.
President Zardari said that the democratic government had completed its four years successfully by following the policy of reconciliation put forward by Benazir Bhutto. He hoped that the government would complete its constitutional term and that the general elections would be held on time.
President Zardari said that the country was facing many challenges and dialogues with all political forces must continue for making policies on important national issues. He said that progress and prosperity of the people was the vision of the government and all the legislation done in the past four years was done by holding consultation with all the political and allied parties which could be described as a major success of the democratic government.
President Zardari said that lawlessness in Karachi would not be allowed under any condition. He said that Karachi was the economic epicentre of the country and hence full action was being undertaken against elements responsible for creating the law and order situation. He said that instructions had already been given to the Sindh government to eliminate extortion mafia, drug mafia and targeted killings. He said that dialogue with all the political stakeholders would continue for finding a durable solution in Karachi.
President Zardari directed Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah to conclude the dialogues on the new local government system in Sindh. He asked the chief minister to take the MQM and other allied parties into confidence on the local government system.
President Zardari said that the local government system in Sindh should reflect the aspirations of the people of the province and it should help in solving their problems. He asked the chief minister to complete the development works in the province on time.
President Zardari welcomed the suggestion of the round table conference by Mr Hussain and said that he would discuss this with the prime minister.