KARACHI, Feb 16: After a decade-long break, Pakistan Muslim League-N renewed contacts with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement after party chief and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif formally called on Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad here on Monday.

This is the first time the PML-N has publicly distanced itself from its resolution adopted during a 2006 all-parties conference in London, which was chaired by the party chief himself, barring all political parties from making “any contact with MQM in future”.

Political observers welcomed the development and said that although it was a meeting between the chief executive of Punjab and the representative of President Asif Ali Zardari in Sindh, it was an important step to break the deadlock between two important political parties.

In an attempt to highlight rapprochement efforts, Mr Shahbaz and Dr Ibad stressed the need for political harmony, unity and understanding to tackle challenges confronting the nation.

In reply to a question whether the meeting could be considered a formal contact between the PML-N and the MQM, Mr Shahbaz said: “Of course it is an official contact. After all, I am the president of PML-N.”

When asked to comment on the London APC resolution, he said it had become irrelevant and the main issue was how to forge unity because only national unity could overcome challenges.

When asked if there had been any telephonic contact with MQM chief Altaf Hussain, the chief minister said he had asked the Sindh governor to convey his ‘Salaam’ to Mr Hussain, and he was hopeful that he would do it.

Dr Ibad said he would “certainly convey Shahbaz Sharif’s Salaam” to Mr Hussain.

Commenting on the possibility of a meeting between Mian Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain, Mr Shahbaz said: “Everything is possible. Pakistan is our first priority: Parties opposing each other in the past are now partners in the coalition government.”

The governor said the Punjab chief minister was visiting Sindh in connection with wheat supply, adding that he had sanctioned a substantial quantity for the people of province.

Dr Ibad said that the internal and international situation called for “understanding and unity over and above party politics” and there was a consensus that the country could not afford confrontation at this point in time.

When the governor was asked if the chief minister had invited him to visit Punjab, he replied in the affirmative.

Mr Shahbaz Sharif was accompanied by Sindh Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, PML-N leaders Khwaja Asif, Chaudhry Jafar Iqbal and Nadeem Kamran.