KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has called upon all political forces to join hands and help the government overcome the challenges being faced by the country.
The president stated this during a meeting with Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, who called on him at the Bilawal House here on Tuesday night.
According to the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar, President Zardari thanked Mr Ibad for resuming his responsibilities as governor and expressed the hope that it would boost reconciliation efforts, promote harmony and augur well for political stability and peace in the province.
Mr Zardari also called MQM chief Altaf Hussain during the meeting and praised him for asking Mr Ibad to resume his duties.
Governor Ibad, the spokesman said, thanked President Zardari for the trust reposed in him.
Mr Ibad, who reached Karachi in the early morning from Dubai by a special plane sent by the president, could not meet Mr Zardari in the day because he was on a visit to Kabul. He returned on Tuesday night.
According to Bilawal House sources, the president and the governor discussed relations between the PPP and MQM, besides the political situation in Sindh. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah met Mr Ibad at the Governor’s House. At a press conference, the chief minister termed the return of Mr Ibad a good omen for political stability and well being of the people of Sindh. He said it was the farsightedness of Altaf Hussain and President Zardari which helped resolve the complicated issue amicably.
Mr Shah announced the withdrawal of PPP candidates from the election for two seats (LA-30 and LA-36) in Karachi for the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which became the basis of controversy and forced the MQM to quit the PPP-led coalition government in Sindh. The chief minister said the decision would enable MQM candidates to return unopposed.
He said that three years of cooperation between the PPP and MQM had benefited the people of Sindh and expressed the hope that such traditions would continue in future as well.
In reply to a question, the chief minister said it was not pressure politics, but “our approach to solve people’s problems with coordination” and take all parties along to stabilise democracy. “Our hearts beat together with the MQM and it was the same spirit which took us to ‘Nine Zero’ to reach a consensus.”
Governor Ibad thanked President Zardari and Altaf Hussain for “giving me another opportunity to serve the people of Sindh”.
He said the MQM chief had told him that political stability in Sindh was necessary. “Ups and downs in politics are routine matters which should be dealt with politically. We have started the journey together and must go forward together.”
The governor said Mr Shah had vast experience and his guidance, along with cooperation of all stakeholders, would help curb target killings and restore peace in the city. He said the MQM was a political reality and called for political understanding.
Local Bodies Minister Agha Siraj Durrani, Home Minister Manzoor Wasan, adviser Rashid Rabbani and special assistant Syed Waqar Mehdi accompanied the chief minister during his meeting with the governor.
Dr Ibad was welcomed by MQM lawmakers and a large number of party workers at the Jinnah International Airport. After a brief interaction with the media, he left for the Governor’s House.