PPP-MQM talks still no progress

Lahore, Pakistan: PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Saturday again agreed to carry on dialogues and resolve the issues with coordination as the a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and MQM delegation failed to break a deadlock over the abolishment of Local Government system.

The MQM delegation, led by Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad Khan, called on President Zardari in Bilawal House here Saturday. It also included Babar Khan Ghauri Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Mustafa Kamal City District Nazim and Provincial Ministers including Adil Siddiqui, Dr Saghir Ahmad and Haroon Ahmad.

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister of State for Information Samsam Ali Bokhari, Secretary General Salman Faruqi and Sindh Minister Plenipotentiary Jameel Soomro also attended the meeting.

In the meeting the MQM delegation raised the unsettled issues including abolishment of Local Government System by the federal government and appointment of administrators in lieu of Nazims.

The MQM demanded lifting of ban on recruitment in government departments and the release of funds to the city district governments of MQM in Hyderabad and Karachi, but no progress had been made over the issues.

Reportedly, the president assured the delegation that all the ruling allies would be taken into confidence before taking any major decision in regards to the scrapping local body system and the announcement of LG polls.

The controversy between PPP and MQM erupted due to a notification issued by Sindh government to the effect that only the Sindh chief minister was empowered to sell official state land.

Earlier, Dr. Ishrat-Ul Ibad and Mustafa Kamal held one-on-one meeting with the president.