KARACHI, Feb 27: Efforts made by President Asif Ali Zardari to persuade MQM chief Altaf Hussain to let Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan continue working as governor of Sindh bore fruit when Dr Ibad was advised by his leader on Wednesday to “take back his resignation and resume responsibilities for the sake of peace and stability in Sindh”.

The governor left for Dubai about a week ago after the MQM parted ways with the PPP government at the Centre and in Sindh.

According to an MQM statement, Mr Hussain spoke to the governor by phone and advised him to resume his responsibilities for promoting harmony among various segments of society.

It said the governor had sent his resignation to President Zardari after differences developed between PPP and MQM and the latter decided to sit on opposition benches.

Mr Hussain told the governor that although he had tendered his resignation voluntarily there was a persistent demand from members of the business community, religious scholars and people belonging to different spheres of life that he should be asked to take his resignation back.

He also told Dr Ibad that Interior Minister Malik had conveyed to him messages of President Asif Ali Zardari and other government personalities that even though the MQM was free to take its political decisions the governor should be asked to continue “in the larger interest of Sindh and Pakistan”.

Mr Hussain asked the governor to reconsider his decision “in the light of requests made by the business community, industrialists, religious scholars, and people belonging to different spheres of life”.