ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday evening talked to President Asif Ali Zardari over telephone from London hours after the Supreme Court released a detailed order in a contempt of court case against him.

A carefully-drafted official announcement issued by the President’s spokesman about the telephonic conversation had, however, no mention of the contempt case against the MQM chief.

But Farhatullah Babar’s statement that the two leaders discussed “the law and order situation in Karachi” clearly showed that the matter did come under discussion since Karachi and certain parts of Sindh have been in the grip of fear and tension after the issuance of contempt notice to Mr Hussain by the apex court on Friday.

There were sporadic incidents of violence in various parts of Karachi and businesses remained closed in several parts of Sindh because of an ‘unannounced strike’ on Saturday apparently in protest against the SC decision.

“Issues that came under discussion included law and order in Karachi, energy shortages and the economic situation in the country,” Mr Babar said in the statement. He said the MQM chief had praised President Zardari for pursuing the policy of reconciliation which had resulted in the coalition democratic government approaching the successful completion of its constitutional term of five years.

He said the MQM chief had vowed to continue its “support to the government in the pursuit of democratic ideals, the supremacy of parliament and for the common objective of the good of the people”.

The president, according to Mr Babar, thanked Mr Hussain for reiteration of his support to the government and said the government also welcomed and looked forward to the continued support of the MQM on all important national issues.