KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday expressed the hope that the PPP and MQM would soon finalise their deliberations for conducting local bodies’ elections in the province.

A meeting of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leadership was held here at the Bilawal House on Monday with President Asif Ali Zardari in the chair.

The coalition partners discussed various issues regarding the Local Government System for Sindh and the law and order situation in the province during the meeting.

President Asif Ali Zardari said that the fragile law and order situation in Karachi demanded of all political forces to work together for ensuring peace in the metropolis and bringing the culprits to book.

He said that the political forces should augment efforts of the law enforcing agencies in maintaining peace in Karachi.

President Zardari, while underlining the need for the two coalition partners to work hand in hand for peace in the province and strengthening of the political process, said that the PPP believes in following the policy of reconciliation and taking along all its allied parties in matters of national importance.

He said that ensuring complete law and order and the protection of lives and property of the citizens was the government’s priority and that no compromise shall be made in this regard.

Those who were present during Monday’s meeting included, among others, Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Dr Asim Hussain, Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Babar Khan Ghouri, Pir Mazharul Haq, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Agha Siraj Khan Durrani, Rafique Engineer, Rashid Hussain Rabbani, MNA Abdul Qadir Patel, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Muhammad Kanwar Naveed and Raza Haroon.