ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement is likely to announce its return to the coalition government on Sunday as the new accord between the Pakistan People’s Party and MQM was given a final nod in a meeting held at the presidency on Saturday, sources told Dawn.
“A meeting of PPP ministers of the Sindh cabinet, with President Asif Ali Zardari in the chair, at the presidency reviewed the progress of talks with different political parties in the province with a view to restoring peace and normalcy in the port city,” said President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar.
“The meeting remained quite positive and people will soon see its results,” he said.The spokesman did not rule out the possibility that the MQM will announce its return to the government on Sunday.
The meeting presided by President Asif Ali Zardari considered the possibility of administrative and political changes in Sindh, including replacement of Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Home Minister Manzoor Wasan.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah, Sindh Senior Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Senior Minister for Education Pir Mazhr-ul-Haq, Minister for Agriculture Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Finance Minister v Syed Murad Ali Shah, Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, Minister for Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani, Farhatullah Babar and MNA Abdul Qadir Patel attended the meeting.
Briefing newsmen, Mr Babar said that the meeting was briefed about the devastation caused by the recent floods in Badin, Tando Allahyar and other areas of Sindh and the relief and rehabilitation measures taken so far. The president directed to step up relief and rehabilitation measures and provide immediate relief to displaced people.
The meeting reiterated that law and order would be maintained at all costs with the help of all political forces.
Mr Zardari directed Dr Zulfiqar Mirza to complete the party organisation up to the lowest level to mobilise workers. He also directed the ministers to reach out to the people in the flood-affected areas to redress their problems.
Mr Babar said that the Sindh chief minister was unable to attend the meeting due to pressing engagements with the flood-related activities.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik informed the meeting that he had again given a free hand to Rangers to quell violence in Karachi.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will spend a busy day and chair some meetings in Karachi on Sunday. It is expected that some significant development will take place regarding the PPP-MQM patch-up.
Meanwhile, a senior leader of Awami National Party, Bashir Bilour, urged the Sindh government to call in the army to control the law and order situation in Karachi.
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