MQM presented new demands: Khurshid Shah

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Labour, Manpower and Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah Tuesday said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has presented new demands which were being discussed, Geo News reported.

The minister was of the view that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) does not believe in politics of confrontation and it was firmly following the policy of reconciliation in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

"PPP adopted a policy of reconciliation and closed the doors of political victimization," he said.

Khurshid Shah said that PPP-led government has the required majority in the National Assembly and did not need allies. ‘We have tried our best to remove MQM’s reservations and the party expressed satisfaction after talks with the president and the prime minister.’

He was addressing a ceremony of certificate distribution among the workers of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) here at the Convention Centre under the Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme (BESOS).

The minister said PPP-led coalition government would ensure provision of all rights to labour community as it believed in service to downtrodden people.

He said PPP was against the privatization of state institutions as workers feel their future insecure, rather it gave more share to them through the stock option scheme.

He said now it was responsibility of workers to work devotedly for development of their organizations to make them profitable.

Khursheed Shah said the employees reinstated under the Sacked Employees Act-2010 were protected by the Constitution and now no one could dare to oust them.

He said all credit goes to President Asif Ali Zardari, who fulfilled the promise made by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to the sacked employees for their reinstatement, despite facing several hurdles.

Later while talking to media, Khursheed Shah said PPP enjoyed majority in the Parliament but despite that it would take along all political parties and amicably resolve national issues.