MQM suspends its ultimatum after talks between Zardari, Altaf

Zardar­i assure­s Altaf that he will take up the matter of implem­enting promis­es person­ally.

KARACHI: Following a telephonic conversation between President Asif Ali Zardari and Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) chief Altaf Hussian late on Wednesday, the MQM has decided to withdraw its three day ultimatum to the government, Express News reported late on Wednesday.

The MQM Rabita Committee had issued an ultimatum to their coalition partners, that unless their demands were met within three days, they would quit the treasury benches for the opposition benches in provincial and national assembly.

As the deadline approached, MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party representatives held a meeting in Governor house in Karachi on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad Khan along with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah along with senior members of both the MQM and PPP.

However, the matter was resolved when leaders of both the parties held a telephonic conversation late on Wednesday.

An MQM release said that Altaf asked the Rabita Committee to withdraw its ultimatum after Zardari assured of personally solving problems central to a rift between the allies.

Meanwhile, Express News correspondent Naeem Khanzada said that some sources had confirmed that the MQM had considered their leader’s request and had withdrawn their ultimatum. He added that the latest rift was on implementing the recently signed Sindh Local Government Ordinance, which has run into resistance before the ink on the ordinance parchment could dry.