September 01, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 29, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 31: Negotia-tions between the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement over the issue of the upcoming presidential election apparently failed to make any breakthrough as the latter made it clear it would not vote in favour of the PML-Q’s candidate, Mushahid Hussain Syed.

A PML-Q delegation, comprising the party’s president Chaudhry Shuja’at Hussain, Mushahid Hussain, former federal minister Ejazul Haq and others visited the MQM’s headquarters on Sunday — concluding a whirlwind tour of the city to ostensibly drum up political support for Mr Mushahid’s candidature — and held a meeting with the MQM leadership for more than an hour. MQM chief Altaf Hussain also joined the talks over the telephone from London.

The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and both parties — which had formed a coalition government after the 2002 general elections — agreed to work together to steer the country out of the present crises.

After the meeting, the PML-Q and MQM leadership emerged from the party’s headquarters — Nine Zero — and informed newsmen that the visit did not aim at seeking the MQM’s support for the presidential election.

“We did not come here for votes,” said Chaudhry Shuja’at.

Mr Mushahid said that the relationship of both parties would continue in future also and his party was looking beyond the September 6 presidential election.

MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that his party chief informed the visiting delegation that Pakistan needs broad-based coordination among all stakeholders.

He said there was a consensus among both parties that all stakeholders should play their role in making the current reconciliation process a success.

To a question, Mr Mushahid said that his party was in touch with the ruling Pakistan People’s Party and PML-N. “We believe in the politics of dialogue,” he added.

Replying to another question, he said that PPP’s presidential candidate Asif Ali Zardari should respond to claims about his mental health.