KARACHI, Nov 18:The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Monday announced that it would support the PML-Q candidate for the prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly.

The decision was announced at a news conference here this evening by deputy convener of the MQM coordination committee, Dr Farooq Sattar, who was flanked by other members of the committee.

The MQM, however, did not open its cards about the setup in the province and maintained that its options were still very much open.

Since the MQM has maintained that its decision in the province would be based on who forms the government at the Centre, the outcome in the province is just a matter of formality. Dr Farooq Sattar said during talks with the PML-Q and PPP, the MQM had indicated its claim to the top slot in the province.

Dr Farooq Sattar praised Gen Pervez Musharraf’s efforts for the return of some of the 1,200 displaced families to their homes in Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Lines Area and Liaquatabad areas. He said this would solve many problems of the affected families.

The announcement was made as the security agencies sealed Baitul Hamza, the headquarters of the breakaway Haqiqi faction which too was ironically installed with military’s indulgence.

Earlier, the MQM had linked its support with the resolution of its grievances which also included the above-mentioned problem. Dr Sattar said the MQM emphasised this because it was interested in seeing that the new government should begin its task with a clean slate and should be stable enough to address common man’s problems.

But the most important point which the MQM had included in its demand was that of redrafting of a new constitution and provincial autonomy on the basis on 1940 resolution, leaving only defence, foreign policy, currency with the Centre.

It was not yet clear whether it also got assurance from the PML-Q on these points.

Asked to comment on the ongoing bid for power at the Centre, Dr Farooq Sattar said if Gen Musharraf had held elections for a constituent assembly, the country would not have faced the present crisis.

He said those forces who were claiming to be champions of democracy, must come out with a counter proposal to take the country out of the present impasse.

When his attention was drawn to Gen Musharraf’s stand on his presidency and the LFO, he said parliament should be supreme.