ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday strongly dispelled the impression given by some elements that Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) ministers have boycotted the cabinet meeting.

Replying to questions of media representatives after the cabinet meeting, Kaira said the wrong impression is being given that the MQM has boycotted the cabinet meeting. “They were busy in Karachi,” he added.

The minister said that Makhdoom Amin Fahim has been named as chairman of a cabinet committee to look into law and order situation in Karachi and Sindh because he belongs to a family respected by all above political affiliations.

About President Asif Ali Zardari's Chicago visit, the information minister said that he had gone there to attend the Nato summit and bilateral meetings were not included in the schedule.

“Chicago summit was not the forum for apologies. Our talks are going on with the United States and the Nato and our stance on Salala attack is very clear,” said Kaira adding “the president reiterated the stance of the parliament at the summit.”

The credit to stand up in front of super powers goes to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership as no other leader ever had the courage to do so, he said.

Kaira requested the media to keep the national interests supreme while reporting on sensitive issues.

He said that the federal cabinet has expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the visit of the Turkish prime minister to Pakistan. The cabinet appreciated the address of PM Erdogan to the joint session of the parliament and for expressing his understanding with the stance taken by Pakistan on Nato issues.

To a question, he said that the federal interior ministry was fully cooperating with the Sindh government and a judicial commission has been formed to probe the Karachi incident.

To another question, Kaira said that opposition has been playing its due role but politics of 1980s and 1990s will never return in Pakistan as that was not in national interest.

About chief justice's remarks in Quetta, he said the PPP respects the courts and will welcome any guidance given by the Supreme Court on Balochistan case.

Kaira said that at the outset of the meeting, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani stated that the federal government holds the apex court in high esteem and he has directed the principal secretary to the prime minister and the cabinet secretary to appear before the court in Quetta despite the cabinet meeting here.

He also told that the prime minister has formed a committee headed by Farooq A. Naek to look after the issue of missing persons in Balochistan.

The information minister also informed that the chairman cabinet committee on energy gave a presentation to the cabinet on energy situation in the country. The prime minister has directed that the law ministry to draft necessary legislation to deal with the issues of power theft, defaulters and recovery strictly, he added.