ISLAMABAD: Recollecting the many sacrifices that the Urdu-speaking community had made during Pakistan's formative years, Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Thursday apologised for senior provincial minister Zulfiqar Mirza's statement televised earlier, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives in Islamabad, Malik said the Urdu-speaking community did not belong to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement only, but that members of the community also belonged to the Jamaat-i-Islaami, the Pakistan People's Party and other political parties.

Moreover, he said it was one of slain leader Benazir Bhutto's decisions and directions for the PPP to work alongside the MQM and pursue political reconciliation with them.

He added that the MQM was a national party, and that he deeply respected MQM chief Altaf Hussain.