Karachi: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday announced to rejoin treasury benches in parliament in the ‘larger national interests and to save and continue democratic process’ on the invitation of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, but refused to join federal cabinet for the time being.
Talking to the media along with the prime minister at MQM headquarter, Nine-Zero , member MQM Coordination Committee and provincial Minister for Information Technology Raza Haroon said that after threadbare deliberations throughout last night and on Friday morning, MQM Rabita Committee Karachi and London decided to rejoin the government in the larger national interests and for strengthening democracy.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Gilani invited MQM to rejoin government, assuring that all its reservations would be addressed.
He said that he had held detailed telephonic conversation with MQM chief Altaf Hussain and discussed different issues with him. He said that they discussed various issues including good governance, accountability, RGST and inflation. He said that the MQM quit the government in protest against recent hike in petroleum products’ prices and today he had came to Nine-Zero after withdrawing the decision. He said the government wanted to bring a consensus accountability bill in the parliament, saying that they did not want political victimization.
He said he had directed the Sindh chief minister to address the reservations of MQM and all the decisions regarding provincial government should be taken in provincial cabinet. The bill for revival of commissionerate system has also been postponed and it would only be tabled in the assembly after developing consensus, he added.
He assured the MQM that PPP wanted to take it along with utmost sincerity and invited the MQM to rejoin the government.
On the occasion, Raza Haroon said that the country was passing through critical phase of its history. He said that MQM and its leaders were ready to give any kind of sacrifice in the larger national interests.
He enumerated various issues inviting government’s attention to resolve them. He welcomed PM announcement to postpone the RGST bill and withdrawal of recent hike in petroleum products’ prices.
He thanked the prime minister for visiting MQM’s headquarter. He said MQM chief Altaf Hussain talked to prime minister, Chief Minister and Governor Sindh and Federal Interior Minister via phone.
Earlier, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is in Karachi since Thursday night to shore up support for his fading coalition government, visited ‘Nine- Zero’, the headquarter of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), to persuade the MQM leadership to rejoin the coalition government.
On his arrival at the MQM’s headquarter, the prime minister was accorded warm welcome as the party leaders and workers showered rose petals on him besides chanting slogans in favour of both the parties .
The prime minister was received by Haider Abbas Rizvi, Babar Ghouri, , Faisal Sabazwari, Raza Haroon other senior leaders.
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