2nd March, 1998.

Decision on alliance with govt soon, Altaf Hussain

KARACHI, March 1: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain, addressing a general workers' meeting here on Sunday by telephone, declared that the coordination committee of the party would soon take a decision whether to maintain or break up relationship with the government, in accordance with the wishes of party members.

The party workers, responding to a question from Mr Hussain, declared unanimously that relationship with the government should be broken up. Mr Hussian told the party workers that a 1992-like situation had emerged and MQM supporters were being killed.

"Haqiqi terrorists", he alleged, had been given a free hand to kill MQM supporters and a stage was set for a fresh operation against the party. He asked the party workers tobe prepared to face another operation.

Mr Hussian said a former adviser to Sindh chief minister, Dr Ayub Shaikh, had been arrested after his return to Karachi from London. After his arrest, Mr Hussain said,the party hadcontacted the interior minister, the Sindh chief minister, Senator Saifur Rehmanand other high officials who told the party leaders that Dr Shaikh had not been arrested by theSindh administration, so the party should talk to the "relevant quarters" in this regard.