KARACHI: The chief of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain said Saturday that the old relations with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would continue in the larger interest of the country, particularly for promoting peace and stability in Sindh province.

According to a statement issued by the MQM on Saturday, Hussain stated this while speaking to Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who called on him in London.

The current political situation in the country was discussed in detail in the meeting that lasted for over three and a half hours, the statement said.

Hussain said that his party believed in retaining relationships with all democratic forces in the country, including the PPP. It was decided in the meeting that the core committees of the MQM and the PPP would restart dialogue on all discordant issues.

It was also decided that both the parties would contest general elections individually but there could be a possibility for adjustment on certain seats.—APP

Agreement on 'defusing tensions'

Meanwhile, MQM leader and Governor Sindh, Dr Ishratul Ibad on Saturday called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House in Lahore.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed on taking steps to defuse tensions between the two parties. The leaders also discussed issues relating to forming a joint strategy regarding the upcoming general elections.

The MQM, the largest party in Karachi, has been a key partner in the PPP-led coalition federal government and the Sindh provincial government.

On Feb 16, the MQM parted ways with the federal and provincial governments in protest against what it described as the ‘negative attitude’ of the People’s Party.

Soon afterwards, MQM ministers resigned from their portfolios following which the People's Party restored in Sindh the 1979 local government system in – a matter of contention between the two parties.

However, earlier this week, MQM chief Altaf Hussain advised Ishratul Ibad to withdraw his resignation and resume his responsibilities as governor Sindh “for the cause of peace and stability in the country, especially Sindh”, according to an MQM statement issued at the time.