March 03, 2008	Monday	Safar 24, 1429

KARACHI, March 2: Leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Q visited the headquarters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Sunday and discussed with MQM leaders the overall political situation and agreed to continue their cooperation in the future.

The PML-Q announced that it would have no objection if the MQM became a part of the future government.

When PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, secretary general Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and other leaders arrived at the MQM’s Nine Zero headquarters, they were given a rousing welcome.

During talks with MQM leaders, the party chief Altaf Hussain joined them by phone from London.

A large number of MQM workers, including women, showered the PML-Q delegation with rose petals.

While the MQM is still undecided whether to join the government or sit in the opposition, the MQM chief made it clear that his party would not forget its old friends and the two parties would maintain their close relations.

Mr Hussain said that the MQM would continue working for the solidarity of the country whether it sat in the opposition or joined any coalition government.The PML-Q leadership congratulated the MQM on its victory in the Feb 18 elections.

Talking to newsmen, Chaudhry Shujaat said his party would have no objection if the MQM joined hands with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to form a coalition government for the prosperity and development of the people and in the best interest of the province.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said the PML and its coalition parties, the MQM, PML-F, PPP-Sherpao and National People’s Party (NPP) had jointly secured the highest number of votes in the country and in Sindh.

He said that the PML-Q would play the role of a constructive opposition.

MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that his party would make new friends but would never forget the old ones.

He said that dialogue among all political parties was necessary to build a national consensus and to steer the country out of crisis.