ISLAMABAD, June 26: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has apprised President Gen Pervez Musharraf about its concern over what it termed "unnecessary" delay in the tabling of five bills , submitted by the party to the National Assembly Secretariat on women's rights and Hudood laws, sources told Dawn.

The sources said during a meeting with Gen Musharraf at the Aiwan-i-Sadr here on Saturday afternoon, the MQM legislators asked the president to take notice of those elements in the ruling coalition who had been dropping these bills from the agenda of the National Assembly sessions for the past several months.

The sources said the president had assured the MQM members that the bills on Hudood laws and women's rights would be tabled soon in the assembly.

The MQM members also briefed the president on the political situation in Sindh. During the meeting, the MQM MNAs held the religious parties responsible for the poor law and order situation in Karachi. According to the sources, Gen Musharraf acknowledged that "religious fanatics" also had a role in worsening law and order situation in Karachi.

The sources said the MQM members also asked Gen Musharraf to make arrangements for the opening of Indian visa office in Karachi. Similarly, the MQM legislators also called for activating circular railway service in Karachi to facilitate a large number of commuters.

The issue of power shortage in Karachi also came up for discussion in the meeting, which continued for more than three hours. The sources said the MQM leaders told Gen Musharraf that Karachi was facing a shortage of some 600 megawatts of electricity and this requirement could be met with the activation of Hubco-Karachi power transmission line.

The president informed the MQM members about the change of the prime minister and took them into confidence on the matter.

The sources said the MQM leaders also raised the issue of non-implementation of the Wage Award and asked the president to take notice of the advertisement campaign launched by the APNS.

According to an official handout, Gen Musharraf called upon the MQM representatives to make all efforts for promotion of peace and harmony in the country for continued economic development. Gen Musharraf said the government on its part was endeavouring to net the criminals and award them exemplary punishment through courts.

He said peace and stability were prerequisites for accelerated economic development. He said some major development projects were being implemented in Karachi. He assured that the federal government would extend all possible assistance for projects in Sindh, particularly in Karachi for the welfare of the common man.

Those who met the president included Dr Farooq Sattar, Prof Khalid Wahab, Nawab Mirza, Shamim Siddiqui, Kunwar Khalid Younus, Dev Das, Shamim Akhtar, Afsar Begum and Shabina Talat.