ONLY A CONSTITUTIONAL AND DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT CAN NEGOTIATE WITH MR VAJPAYEE --- ALTAF HUSSAIN

London- 26 June 2001

In a statement issued from London, Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of MQM, said that if the political parties are truly sincere in the restoration of democracy in Pakistan, they should tell the present military government that any meeting and dialogue with the Indian Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee on different issues including Kashmir would only be fruitful, recognised and yield any results for the long lasting peace in the region if the negotiation takes place with a democratically elected government of Pakistan.

Mr Altaf Hussain told the leaders of the political parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League that simply a boycott of the briefing regarding the visit of General Parvez Musharraf to India is not the solution but it is in the larger interest of the country to ask the military government not only through meetings and press statements but also through starting practical struggle, to hold general elections first and restore democracy.  He said that the elected government will have the constitutional and legal right to talk to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee over the difference, including the Kashmir Issue, between the two countries with the consensus and the will of the people of Pakistan.