July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

KARACHI, July 7: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has summoned an important meeting of the party in London to review the overall political and economic situation in Pakistan, MQM’s relations with the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition and the situation in Karachi amid growing threat from the Taliban.

Well-placed sources in the party told Dawn on Monday that besides Karachi-based members of the MQM coordination committee, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal were likely to attend the meeting.

The sources said that the issues like unnecessary interference by non-MQM ministers in the affairs of the MQM-held portfolios and various other problems would be discussed at the meeting.

The meeting would also review the performance of the City District Government Karachi in the backdrop of Rs2 billion cut in its grant from the provincial government during the last three months.

The sources said that the participants would also exchange views on whether the MQM should join the federal cabinet in the prevailing circumstances or not.

However, the sources added, the focus would be on the potential threat from the Taliban in Karachi. They pointed out that Mr Hussain had recently warned that Talibanisation was being fomented in Karachi under a well-planned conspiracy aimed at igniting sectarian and ethnic violence.