KARACHI, Feb 25: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Monday that President Asif Ali Zardari had not yet received the resignation of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

In reply to a question about Dr Ibad’s fate, he said: “Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan is still our Governor”.

However, he said that it was the Muttahida Qaumi Movement which had to decide about its governor.

Talking to newsmen after a meeting of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, he praised the role of Dr Ibad for political harmony in the province and keeping Pakistan People’s Party and MQM partnership intact during the past five years.

He said that the MQM had a democratic right to contest the next general elections separately with its own manifesto.

He thanked MQM chief Altaf Hussain for his cooperation with the PPP during the past five years. Mr Hussain did a great job for democracy, for the country and for the good of the people, he added.

He hoped that the MQM leadership would extend cooperation to the government and support all its positive steps and policies. “Altaf Bhai and President Zardari are still friends,” he remarked.—APP