KARACHI, March 20: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Perviaz Elahi and NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani called on Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim at the Chief Minister’s House here on Sunday and discussed matters of mutual interest. The three chief ministers visited Mazar-i-Quaid, laid floral wreaths and offered fateha. They also noted down their impressions in the Visitors’ Book. Members of the Sindh cabinet, Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Rahila Tiwana, Chief Secretary Aslam Sanjrani, DCO Fazalur Rehman and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

“We pray to Almighty Allah to give us strength to work for the welfare of the people and the country,” Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi told reporters on the occasion. “It is a moment of delight for me to be here along with the NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani and Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim at the Mazar of the Father of the Nation,” he said, adding: “We are grateful to the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who has given us this country where we are living a peaceful life.”

Regarding the MMA’s ‘million march’ which was being held at some distance from the Mazar, he said the opposition had their own agenda.

“We never involve ourselves in march, million march, and triple million march. Instead, we are discharging our responsibilities with dedication and honesty, and serving the cause of people and development of our respective provinces,” he remarked.

He said the opposition had its own thinking and its leaders were following the same.

Responding to a questioner, he said: “To exhibit solidarity, we, the chief ministers of all four provinces, were scheduled to visit the Mazar-i-Quaid to pay him homage today, but due to his preoccupation, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf could not come here.”

In reply to a question regarding pending issues between provinces, Mr Elahi said: “We all are brothers and would sit together to sort them out through talks.”

Regarding the NFC award, the Mr Elahi said that his intention was to get the matter resolved as soon as possible. “When we would sit together, Inshallah we would be able to find some way out.”

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim told reporters: “We would make our best effort to get united on issues of national interest. We are demonstrating our solidarity here. The Chief Minister of NWFP Akram Durrani, who represents a different party, is present here as the whole nation recognizes the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.”

Dr Arbab pointed out that he and his counterparts shared an identical point of view as far as the creation of Pakistan was concerned.

So far as the party manifestos were concerned, he added, “They have their own programme and we have ours, but on common matters, we would take a united stand.”

In reply to a question, Dr Arbab maintained: “We are in agreement, and do agree on various matters; our differences are not of personal nature, but it’s a question of rights, and everyone has his own views.”

Mr Durrani, responding to newsmen’s questions, said: “We have made a pledge to sit together and work on the issues related to provinces on which no one has any objection.”—PPI/APP