KARACHI, Nov 22: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has advised the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal to practise constructive politics instead of indulging in the politics of resignations.
He reiterated the government’s stand that in the newly passed law, there was nothing that could be described as being contrary to the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah, nor was there anything in violation of the Constitution.
The PM made these remarks while talking to journalists at Kingri House here on Wednesday after his meeting with Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and spiritual leader of the Hur Jamaat.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim took Pir Pagara by surprise when they visited the Kingri House without informing him in advance on Wednesday afternoon to wish him ‘happy birthday’.
The preparations for celebrating the occasion were still under way when they arrived at Kingri House, which was being decorated for the main cake-cutting ceremony in the night.
The prime minister told journalists before leaving Kingri House that he exchanged views with Pir Pagara on the political situation prevailing in the country, especially in Sindh.
Terming the meeting ‘useful’, the prime minister said he thanked the PML-F chief for the support his party had extended to the government in getting the Protection of Women (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill passed into law.
After the prime minister left Kingri House, Pir Pagara responded to a few questions by journalists. He ruled out any possibility of his party’s electoral alliance with the ruling PML-Q.
He remarked that there was no point in his party becoming an ally of PML-Q which according to him simply did not exist in the province.
However, he added, PML-F might consider an electoral alliance with the Pakistan People’s Party which enjoyed some support in certain parts of the province. “My party is not considering any deal with any party at the moment,” he asserted.
In reply to a question, he alleged that MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed had always been exploiting others. “Why doesn’t he himself quit the assembly?” he wondered.
Pir Pagara’s youngest daughter, who also turned one on Wednesday, cut the birthday cake at a ceremony held in the night at the Kingri House, kicking off the birthday celebrations across the province.
Pir Pagara’s old colleagues in the PNA movement, Professor Ghafoor Ahmed and Sardar Sherbaz Mazari, as well as other prominent leaders including Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Hakim Ali Zardari and Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman were present at the ceremony which was largely attended by his disciples, followers and party workers.
Meanwhile, journalists at the Kingri House drew Dr Arbab Rahim’s attention to the Pir Pagara’s remarks that ruled out an electoral alliance with PML-Q. Dr Arbab commented that Pir Saheb was his elder and would take the right decision.
“He is also President General Musharraf’s man and we are nobody to tell him what he should or shouldn’t do,” the CM added.
