ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) postponed its all-parties conference (APC) scheduled for December 20 in Karachi after getting a cold response from almost all the mainstream political parties, sources told Dawn.

They said the MQM leadership had decided to postpone the APC on "Political parties and code of conduct" to avoid the possible embarrassment which it could face on the day as all major parties of the country had almost refused to participate in it.

The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) had showed their scepticism over the move of the MQM, saying before making any decision regarding participation or otherwise they would be interested to know the "real motive" behind convening the APC by a party which was part of the government.

The Awami Qayadat Party (AQP) of Gen (retired) Mirza Aslam Beg also refused to take part in the APC while the Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement (Ponam) had not made up its mind in this regard.

A senior Ponam leader had said the nationalist parties should not take part in the APC due to the MQM's role in "strengthening the present military rule."

In a letter to MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, Mr Beg had said it was not possible for him to participate in the APC as MQM Chief Altaf Hussain had issued "statements which had not only caused concerns but were also painful."

Mentioning some of the statements reportedly made by Mr Hussain "against Quaid-i-Azam, Allama Iqbal, two-nation theory" and on the "plan to create greater Punjab", Mr Beg said so far the MQM had neither denied nor clarified them.

A senior PML-N office-bearer alleged that the MQM chief, who visited India as a representative of President Musharraf, had issued the controversial statements at the behest of the president.