KARACHI, Nov 8: The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has urged President Pervez Musharraf to convene a round-table conference to end the current deadlock and to evolve consensus on the restoration of democracy. He said that the MQM was willing to extend its full cooperation in this task.

In a statement issued from London on Friday, Mr Hussain said: “The country is passing through a critical and chaotic phase and it is apprehended that the present impasse may further aggravate the political instability and economic crisis jeopardising the integrity of the country.”

He also urged the political and religious parties to devise ways to overcome this crisis.

Criticizing the political parties, Altaf said: “It is strange that on the one hand the political leaders and the parties are criticizing the president’s policies, while on the other hand these very leaders and parties are hobnobbing with the king-makers to have access to the power corridors.”