Musharraf Rejects MQM's Resignations; PM meets Sindh Governor, CM
Pakistan Times Wire Service

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf while rejecting the resignations submitted to him by the MQM federal ministers has asked them to continue to work with the government for strengthening the political and democratic institutions in Pakistan.

The President assured his cooperation and support to Muttahida Qaumi Movement and appreciated the role of MQM in strengthening the democratic institutions.

President General Pervez Musharraf also assured the ally party of PML-Q to resolve the issues of MQM in Sindh province.

Phone by Altaf

Muttahida Qaumi Movement [MQM] Quaid, Altaf Hussain Friday phoned President General Pervez Musharraf and informed him about the problems faced by the party in the Sindh province.

“Government would make all-out efforts to sort out the problems of ally party through dialogue,” said the President.

Well informed sources say that President General Perez Musharraf Tuesday night phoned Altaf Hussain to discuss the issue, but he was busy in his telephonic address and could not receive the call.

However, Altaf Hussain phoned the President Friday and discussed with him in detail the problems of MQM.

As reported by 'Pakistan Times' [Daily Web Newspaper] earlier, Muttahida Qaumi Movement [MQM)] submitted resignations of its federal cabinet members to President Pervez Musharraf and returned all privileges they enjoyed being in the office, due to alleged obstructions created in the functioning of their ministers and lack of cooperation from the bureaucracy.

The resignations were delivered by Shamim Siddiqui at Presidential Camp Office in Rawalpindi, where Deputy Military Secretary to the President, Col Adnan received the resignations of three federal ministers, Shamim Siddiqui, Babar Ghauri, Syed Safwanullah, and Minister of State Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain.

President and Prime-Minister on Friday held a detailed One-on-One meeting to discuss the situation arising out of MQM resignations and also to work out a strategy to face the No-Confidence being contemplated by the Opposition against Prime Minister Sahukat Aziz.

Though highly dismayed and disappointed by the erratic move by MQM, President Musharraf directed the Prime Minister to trouble shoot the situation by holding talks with the provincial government of Ghulam Arbab Rahim.

He said although some of the concessions sought by the MQM are not in order, it is rather out of order to rock the boat at this time. He was of the view that country’s strategic and political situation at this moment required greater national harmony and the ruling party cannot afford to loose allies at this juncture.

He pointed out that country is going through a historic economic transformation, a host of diplomatic challenges are faced by the nation and there are serious internal and external security concerns.

President noted that country needs unity and harmony at this time. He advised the Prime Minister to address MQM’s grievances at the earliest. He said that he will not accept MQM resignations and hoped that differences will be sorted out amicably.

On the No-Confidence move against the Prime-Minister, the two leaders discussed various options at length.

The political heat was generated primarily due to quick developments which include sharp differences between Muttahida and Chief Minister Sindh, ARD-MMA which resolved to launch a movement of no confidence and of course the arrival of Prime Minister Aziz in Karachi here on Friday evening.

Optimism by PM

Sindh Bureau of 'Pakistan Times' [Daily Web Newspaper] adds from Karachi: After reviewing the current political situation that emerged after the resignations of ministers and advisers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement at a meeting here, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was confident enough to inform the media that the federal government would settle all issues between coalition partners in Sindh through mutual understanding.

The Prime Minister, who arrived in the provincial metropolis on Friday evening along with federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Secretary-General Pakistan Muslim League Mushahid Hussain Sayed, held a meeting at the Sindh Governor House, which was also attended Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, federal ministers Ghaus Bux Maher, Liaquat Jatoi, Saleem Saifullah and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal.

Sources privy to the meeting said the Sindh Governor and the City Nazim represented the Muttahida Qaumi Movement at the meeting and informed the Prime Minister about reasons behind the resignations.

The sources said the Prime Minister was very clear in his stance that not a single resignation would be accepted and all grievances of the Muttahida would be resolved through talks.

As the result of this meeting, the sources hoped the resignation matter would be resolved within the next 48 hours and the Muttahida ministers and advisers would withdraw their resignations.

Later, talking to the media, the Prime Minister said the government was in contact with all coalition partners, including the Muttahida, and hoped that all issues would be resolved with mutual understanding.

Shaukat Aziz informed newsmen that President Pervez Musharraf had directed him not to accept any of the resignations tendered by the Muttahida’s federal ministers. He avoided a clear reply when asked about specific reasons, which compelled the Muttahida to resign.

He confirmed contacts between the top government functionaries and the Muttahida leadership and said: “There is always need for contacts in political matters and in politics everyone has his own point of view.”

However, referring to the Muttahida’s stance that the party would continue supporting President Musharraf and his policies, he said there should be no issue if there was confidence in the leadership.

He said the country’s progress and prosperity and the welfare of the masses was the main objective of the government and its allied parties.

Meanwhile, a source said frequent telephonic contacts from Karachi to London were made even during the meeting at the Governor House and later in a programme of inauguration of the first private sector undersea fibre optic cable at a local hotel late on Friday night.

“There will be no immediate change in the present political set-up in Sindh and the crisis will also be resolved,” the source added. Muttahida sources told this scribe that both President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz assured the party leadership of resolving all problems, which led to the resignations of the party’s ministers and advisors.

The sources said President Musharraf also telephoned Altaf Hussain in London in the wee hours of Friday and asked him to review the decision of resignations. “He (Altaf Hussain) asked President Musharraf to play his due role in fulfilling the party’s demands.●