November 28, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 22, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 27: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali appeared unimpressed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s withdrawal of its support to his government and said he would continue the dialogue process with the opposition groups, including the MMA.

Talking to newsmen at the Balochistan House on Wednesday about the MQM’s decision, the prime minister said: “I have no knowledge of such a development and what I understand is that they have said they will sit on the opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly”.

Earlier, the prime minister received a delegation of notables from Balochistan.

Asked what were the demands of the MQM for continuing its cooperation with the government, Mr Jamali said: “Not much as they did not express any”. He said the government had left a few ministerial slots for them as they had indicated that they would discuss the matter among themselves. However, Mr Jamali said, he had not received any word from them since, adding “they are our brothers and we will take them along”.

In reply to a question whether the government had contacted MQM chief Altaf Hussain, he replied in affirmative and said they would do so in future as well.

When his attention was drawn to the MQM’s announcement that the party would sit on the opposition benches both in the national and the Sindh assemblies, the prime minister said: “I don’t believe such a thing can happen...but don’t worry we will take care of it”.

In reply to a question about the PML-Q president Mian Mohammad Azhar’s anxiety that the party was given far less share in the cabinet than its due, Mr Jamali said: “The top slot of prime minister is with the party which should satisfy everyone”.

The prime minister said the PML-Q in cooperation with its friends would try to form its government in Balochistan and added that he had held positive talks with Nawab Akbar Bugti in this regard.