Altaf Hussain calls Zardari, discuss local govt deadlock
President assures MQM chief that the local government system will be soon reinstated.
KARACHI:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday evening and discussed the challenges being faced by Pakistan, the state of law and order in Karachi and the local government system a release said.
According to a late night MQM statement, Hussain briefed the President on the increase in crime in Karachi. He also stressed that the local government system, over which delegations from both the Pakistan Peoples Party and the MQM have been locked in deliberations for weeks, must be finalised soon since the people have been facing a considerable number of problems in getting their issues resolved.
The local government system has been a bone of contention with the MQM since the PPP replaced the Musharaf era governance system with the old municipal system. MQM, which enjoyed some its golder years under the 2001 system, has been stressing its re-introduction in recent bilateral talks.
President Zardari told Hussain that the local government system will be reinstated soon and has already issued directions in this regard to the Sindh government.
The president also assured the MQM chief that the government has taken notice of the extortion mafia and criminal activities in Pakistan, particularly Karachi, and will take action against them. He also said that a high-level meeting will be called in connection with the issue.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain spoke to President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday evening and discussed the challenges being faced by Pakistan, the state of law and order in Karachi and the local government system a release said.
According to a late night MQM statement, Hussain briefed the President on the increase in crime in Karachi. He also stressed that the local government system, over which delegations from both the Pakistan Peoples Party and the MQM have been locked in deliberations for weeks, must be finalised soon since the people have been facing a considerable number of problems in getting their issues resolved.
The local government system has been a bone of contention with the MQM since the PPP replaced the Musharaf era governance system with the old municipal system. MQM, which enjoyed some its golder years under the 2001 system, has been stressing its re-introduction in recent bilateral talks.
President Zardari told Hussain that the local government system will be reinstated soon and has already issued directions in this regard to the Sindh government.
The president also assured the MQM chief that the government has taken notice of the extortion mafia and criminal activities in Pakistan, particularly Karachi, and will take action against them. He also said that a high-level meeting will be called in connection with the issue.