ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, Aug 4: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday said that the issues with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had been amicably resolved and all the coalition partners would now work together like a team.

Talking to reporters here, he said the negotiations held with the MQM representatives before his departure to Malaysia to attend an OIC meeting there had produced a positive result.

He said all partners in the ruling coalition were united and working in harmony.

The prime minister said coalition partners would meet every fortnightly to have more interaction and coordination among them.

As Mr Aziz foresaw an improved relationship with allies of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, coalition partners in Sindh held a 75-minute meeting in Karachi, their first after Wednesday’s compromise.

The meeting held at the Governor’s House was attended by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and ministers representing their political parties like the MQM, PML, PML-F and PPP. Members of the MQM negotiating team, Kunwar Naveed Jamil and Muhammad Hussain, MPA, also participated in the meeting.

The governor said that ministers, advisers and other functionaries had to work as a team to achieve the vision outlined by President Pervez Musharraf to combat unemployment and poverty and to work for the welfare of people.

He said the president was keen to develop Karachi and Sindh and “each one of us has to work with commitment and dedication to help achieve that objective”.

The participants agreed to work in harmony with each other so that their province could achieve speedy progress.—APP