KARACHI: In an attempt to improve ties with the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Wednesday assured President Asif Zardari of its “full cooperation” and said it was ready to work with any political party to address issues of urban areas of Sindh.

Although the MQM-P is a coalition partner of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government at the Centre, its lawmakers sit on opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly.

A three-member MQM-P delegation, headed by party convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and comprising senior leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal, called on the president at Chief Minister House.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi were also present during the meeting.

Says it is ready to work with all political parties for country’s sake

The MQM-P leaders raised the issue of overall law and order in Karachi with a specific reference to an alarming rise in street crime and expressed their readiness to work with every political party, including the PPP, for the sake of the country and the province.

They also congratulated Mr Zardari on being elected again as the president, said a press release issued by the CM House.

President Zardari thanked the Muttahida leaders and assured them that the government would consult all stakeholders in taking measures to restore peace.

Later, an MQM-P statement said that the party expressed “serious concerns” over the “worsening” law and order situation mainly in Karachi and “requested” President Zardari to use his influence for restoration of peace in the city.

“The meeting emphasised that all political parties should collectively formulate a strategy to deal with the challenges being faced by the country,” it added.

The statement said that the MQM-P informed the president that it was ready to work with political parties at any level in order to play its role in addressing problems of urban areas of the province.

The president assured the MQM-P delegation that he would personally monitor the security situation in the province and would get it improved.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024