'No possibility of meeting with MQM leadership'

CM Shahbaz Sharif dismissed media reports that he was going to London to meet with the MQM leadership.

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif left on Sunday for a five-day visit to London, but said that there is no possibility of a meeting with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leadership during his stay.

Talking to the media at Benazir International Airport, the chief minister said media reports regarding his talks with the MQM are of no value.

Shahbaz claimed that his government has completely changed the concept of foreign tours as they are supposed to be result-oriented for public welfare.

He said his London tour is aimed at securing foreign cooperation in various sectors and improve Pakistan's image abroad.

Earlier, the PML-N’s eponymous chief Nawaz Sharif had said that his party’s reservations against any other political party of the opposition will not hamper the formation of a grand alliance if all other opposition parties got together on a minimum agenda of ‘getting rid’ of the government – a hint towards a possible opposition alliance with the MQM.