Traditional rivals, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), have announced that national security and the problems faced by the country demand that political parties establish a consensus for national solidarity.
In a surprise move, an MQM delegation met JI Ameer Munawwar Hassan and other party leaders at JI’s headquarters in Lahore on Tuesday.
The meeting covered talks on issues of national security after which, in a joint Press conference, MQM leader Farooq Sattar and Munawwar Hassan said that a round table conference on issues of national security should be held so that consensus can be established, adding that meetings were the only way to resolve differences between political parties.
Munawwar said that the time for early elections has passed and that the government needs to be pressurised to hold elections on time.
Both parties agreed that the people were looking towards political parties right now and they will have to reach a consensus till a transitional government is formed and elections take place.
Earlier in Karachi, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), proposed to President Asif Ali Zardari to call a national round-table conference to overcome the problems faced by the nation.
An MQM delegation, headed by Federal Minister Farooq Sattar, held a meeting with the president at Bilawal House in Karachi during which the suggestion was made.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, MQM leader Raza Haroon told journalists that “we suggested to the president that there should be a round-table conference in which people from all political and religious parties should be invited.”
Under severe pressure from its rank and file the MQM delegation also stressed to the President to take up the issues of deteriorating law and order situation, target killings and extortion in Karachi.
The MQM delegations expressed dissatisfaction with overall political scenario of the country especially the recent surge in target killings particularly in Karachi the party’s stronghold and the provincial government’s failure to stop acts of violence.
They also impressed upon the president the anger of MQM activists over the killing of workers and the unending loadshedding that could in the long-run prove harmful for the party’s image.
Haroon also said the president has directed the prime minister to convene a round-table conference to deliberate upon the grievances and complaints of the party.