KARACHI, July 28: Despite uncertainty created by the resignations of Muttahida Qaumi Movement ministers and advisers, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz does not believe that there is a political crisis in the country and has said the government is in contact with its coalition partners to resolve the issue soon.

He was talking to newsmen at the Governor’s House after a long meeting with the provincial governor and chief minister, shortly after his arrival from Islamabad.

“We are in contact with coalition partners because our aim is the same -—welfare and prosperity of Pakistan” said Mr Aziz in his brief chat, adding that all matters would be resolved amicably.

He made it clear that President Pervez Musharraf had declined to accept the resignations and claimed that the situation was not as bad as was being speculated.

Mr Aziz said that on different issues there are differences in point of view which can be resolved when there is confidence in the leadership. He hoped that the present crisis would also be resolved in the same spirit.

While the prime minister was making conciliatory overtures, no one from the MQM side was available to confirm or deny whether fresh contacts had been made by the government to resolve the resignation issue. They were all busy in Mr Altaf Hussain’s telephonic address in Bahawalpur. When the international headquarters of the MQM was contacted by Dawn the answer was to wait for a couple of hours.

While behind the scene efforts were taking place, lack of direct contact between the MQM and other coalition partners, has on the one hand provided a cooling off period to defuse the situation while on the other it has kept the situation fluid. Since the president is personally looking after the issue, the focus has shifted to Islamabad and London.