He made his stance clear at a visit to MQM headquarters Nine-Zero Friday night.
On the visit, he was accompanied by a high-powered PPP delegation comprising Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, local government minister Agha Siraj Durrani, and, most notably, home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.
“The top leaders of both parties have already stated that criminals should be arrested irrespective of their political affiliations so that the peace in the city is maintained at all costs,” said Malik.
The MQM’s Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Khan Ghauri, Sardar Ahmed, Faisal Subzwari, Waseem Ahmed, Adil Siddiqui received the PPP ministers and leaders.
Malik pegged the blame on certain [unnamed] political parties, who, he said, had once again tried to create a misunderstanding between the coalition partners when they heard that a PPP delegation was due at Nine-Zero. They managed to have a fabricated news item published, claiming that the MQM and PPP had signed a confidential deal for the protection of criminals.
He added that the opposition parties had tried to use the Raymond Davis case to destabilise the government, but with the support of the MQM, their designs had failed. The Davis case is in court where his fate will be decided, said Malik, adding simultaneously that the case would be resolved according to the aspirations of the people. He said that the MQM-PPP friendship was the result of the vision of their leaders (Asif Zardari and Altaf Hussain).
The CM thanked the MQM for a warm reception, and added that long before the PPP government was formed, Zardari as PPP co-chairman had visited Nine-Zero where he exchanged Sindhi caps and the Ajrak, which meant that their friendship would last longer. He lauded Altaf Hussain for his “unshaken” resolve to support the PPP during hard times. He expressed the firm belief that neither partner would leave the other today or in the future.
The MQM’s Sattar said that the coalition was in the interest of the masses. It was a continuation of a commitment that both leaders had made when Zardari had visited Nine-Zero. The friendship would not be broken because both leaders wanted to serve the people.
Altaf Hussain also addressed the meeting. The MQM Central Information Committee had acted as a facilitator between the media and the MQM chief. According to it, Hussain had asked the MQM ministers to own Qaim Ali Shah as the CM of their own party and the PPP government should also own the MQM ministers as part of their team. He said that promises made between the two parties should be fulfilled. He said he wanted and wished that the PPP government completed its tenure. The survival of the PPP and MQM was important for the survival of democracy.
“The coalition would stay intact,” said Hussain.
A surprise visitor, given his relationship with the MQM, Zulfiqar Mirza told reporters in reply to a question that he was the home minister of the province and he could go anywhere he wanted. He said that Asif Zardari was his friend and whoever showed respect for his friend, Mirza would embrace him in respect too. He said that he could sacrifice his life for Zardari and the province.
According to sources privy to the discussions, the PPP went to seek the MQM’s assurance for continued support against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, whose deadline is expiring next week. Sources claimed that the PPP delegation gained that support.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2011.
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