KARACHI: PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain visited Nine Zero, the headquarters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on Tuesday night and listened to the party's grievances.
According to sources, he also persuaded his old-time ally to return to the coalition fold as desired by President Asif Ali Zardari.MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar later told reporters that Shujaat's visit to Nine Zero was a timely act and aimed at taking 'stock of the situation'.
Chaudhry Shujaat, whose party is now a part of the PPP government at the centre, held a meeting with members of the MQM coordination committee.
Dr Sattar informed him about several steps taken by the government following the MQM decision to sit on the opposition benches in the parliament and in Sindh assembly.
He was shown footage of violent incidents in Orangi and was informed about the failure of the administration to restore peace in Karachi.
According to insiders, when the PML-Q chief told the meeting that the president wanted the MQM to rejoin the coalition, Dr Sattar said that either Mr Zardari was helpless or was himself involved in worsening the situation.
MQM's Mustafa Kamal told Chaudhry Shujaat that the state of affairs was being messed up on the directives of President Zardari because the government was hurriedly taking anti-MQM steps.
The PML-Q chief was also told that the people were demanding a separate province for them because they believed that the PPP government was pushing them against the wall.Dr Sattar said that Chaudhry Shujaat was told about the government steps which the MQM believed were undemocratic and unconstitutional and that caused a sense of alienation and might hurt the urban-rural unity.
He said the MQM informed the PML-Q chief that it wanted to play its due role while sitting on the opposition benches and it was ready to extend its unconditional cooperation for the restoration and strengthening of peace.
Chaudhry Shujaat told newsmen that although he had met President Zardari a day before, he did not come here with his message.
However, when asked whether President Zardari was serious in bringing back the MQM to the coalition fold, he replied that he was very much serious and wanted to make MQM a part of the government.
“We will never support the oppressor no matter how close that person with us,” he said.
He was of the view that the top leaders of all political and religious parties should come to Karachi and work for maintaining peace.
He said that the PML-Q had not supported the imposition of the commissioner system.
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