May 27, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429

KARACHI, May 26: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has asked all political and religious parties and lawyers’ bodies to pursue the policy of reconciliation because the economic crises confronting the nation require understanding and tolerance among all parties.

In a statement issued from London on Monday, he said that the continuing rise in oil prices, shortage of foodstuff and increase in prices of staple food had taken the shape of a ‘silent Tsunami’.

“The rocketing price of staple food is driving poor people to commit suicides and, regrettably, our politicians are not paying attention to basic problems of the common man,” he said.

The MQM leader said that the stock exchange index continued to plunge, making the entire business community jittery and uncertainty was forcing businessmen to transfer capital out of the country.

Mr Hussain said that the US and Nato countries had expressed their dissatisfaction over the country’s political state of affairs while extreme dangers were looming over the borders.He regretted that politicians, instead of striving for improving the economic condition, were busy with issues which “remotely concern the 98 per cent people of middle class and down-trodden segments of society.

“Even during this dangerously delicate situation we are resorting to politics of agitation and demonstrations while the situation demands seriousness and resolution of conflicts through understanding and reconciliation and avoiding confrontations.”

The MQM leader directed volunteers of the Khidmat-i-Khlaq Foundation (KKF) to take steps to provide flour and rice to needy families.