PML-Q, MQM to develop strategic partnership

By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid have agreed to develop a strategic partnership on important national issues. Besides, both the former allies of the Musharraf era have also agreed to force the rulers not to follow their own interests in decision making.

The decision was taken in a meeting followed by a joint address to political workers by leaders of both the parties at the Muslim League House on Sunday where a 15-member delegation of the MQM met the PML-Q leaders.

The MQM delegation, which met PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, included Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, provincial Minister Raza Haroon, Wasay Jalil, Tahir Asif and Iftikhar Randhawa.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Sattar said both the parties had the same agenda, which was to save Pakistan and both the parties would strive together to fulfil it. He said the MQM and PML-Q had never signed any document like the Charter of Democracy but in reality only these parties had implemented it.

Farooq Sattar said the MQM and PML-Q possessed the power to 'force' the rulers to mend their ways and both would jointly evolve a strategy to block any step against the national interest. He said extremism and terrorism had no space in Pakistan and the struggle would continue to purge the country of the threats and to ensure that it was governed as per the aspirations of its people.

Calling for local government elections, Farooq Sattar said the LG system should be made functional again as democracy could not benefit the people without transferring power to the grassroot level.

Shujaat said he was sure that the PML-N would never muster up the courage to hold the local government elections in the Punjab as its defeat was written on the wall. He said we would not sign any document like the CoD with the MQM but would continue struggling for a single point agenda, which was the welfare of the people of Pakistan as only in this way a revolution could be produced in its true sense.

Criticising the PML-N leadership, Shujaat said it was surprising to see Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif talking about a revolution a few days ago, which could only be brought about by the people who were out of power and not by those who enjoyed power.

Former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi said the PML-Q leaders never chanted the hollow slogans of revolution like the Sharif brothers but took practical measures to change the condition of the people of Punjab. He said it was the PML-Q government that had taken revolutionary measures in the sectors of health, education, public welfare but the present rulers of Punjab had halted all the development process.

Senior leader of PML-Q Raja Basharat, MNA Raza Hiraj, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, Mian Tahir Siddiq and others were also present on the occasion.