MQM, JI call for consensus on holding transparent elections
25 July, 2012
LAHORE: In the wake of the current political turmoil, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leaders, on Tuesday, called upon all political parties to work together for national solidarity and holding elections on time. Addressing a joint press conference at Mansoora, MQM Deputy Convenor Dr Farooq Sattar stressed the need for building a consensus to help resolve the vital national issues, while JI chief Munawar Hassan emphasised the formation of interim government with consensus as well as holding transparent elections. Sattar said that an all-parties' conference should be called to let all political parties, inside and outside parliament, solve vital national problems. He said the country was facing internal and external threats. "Karachi is the backbone of country's economy, where law and order situation is being created to damage the economy," he added. He claimed that the MQM, being a part of the government, had played the role of real opposition. He said that the MQM delegation would also hold meetings with other parties, including the PML-Q, ANP, PML-N and PTI. JI chief Munawar Hassan said all parties should put pressure on the government to announce elections. He regretted that non-implementation of the Supreme Court's orders by the rulers was a big problem in the country. He slammed a new culture among political parties of complaining of "being powerless despite being in the government". Earlier, the MQM delegation, which included Dr Farooq Sattar, Raza Haroon, Iftikhar Akbar Randhawa, Wasay Jalil and Waseem Khokhar, was received by JI Ameer Syed Munawar Hassan and its Secretary General Liaquat Baloch at the JI headquarters in Mansoora. The MQM delegation held a meeting with JI leaders, which lasted for an hour. According to party officials, issues such as national security and situation in Balochistan and Karachi were discussed in the meeting. The meeting was held in the wake of MQM chief Altaf Hussain's recent speech in which he called for developing a consensus on safeguarding the country by creating unity among political and religious leadership of the country, said an MQM leader. The two parties agreed to continue meetings. End.
|
