In the making : Shujaat Hussain says consensus on grand alliance

PML-Q chief urges MQM to issue apology

KARACHI: Veteran politician and head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain advised the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to disown its armed activists and issue a formal apology to the ‘government’ along the lines submitted by the Baloch separatists in Balochistan.

“There are good and educated people in the MQM too,” he said, adding that the militant wings should be disowned by the party.

Chaudhry Shujaat also made it clear that his advice was not just restricted to the MQM but was applicable “to all parties that have militant wings”.

Chaudhry arrived in Karachi on Friday morning and visited PML-F head Pir Pagara, former president Pervez Musharraf and seasoned politician Ghous Ali Shah.

Leaders of different factions of the Muslim League have decided to form a grand alliance, sources confirmed The Express Tribune. Political, religious and nationalist parties will also be contacted to join the grand alliance which they believe will be the third political force in the country.

All PML factions, except the ruling party, will gather in Islamabad on September 10 to discuss the future of the new alliance. This is ahead of the local government elections in Sindh and Punjab – the two decisive provinces of the country.

Shujaat held a one-to-one meeting with Pir Pagara and Musharraf for more than an hour separately, discussing various political issues.

“There is consensus on the grand alliance,” said Shujaat, explaining that he had been trying for a long time to unite all League factions, adding that his dream will come true soon.

He said that the country is facing political turbulence, and in that circumstance it is probably best to form a joint political alliance. “There is no foreign policy,” he said, citing the PML-N government apparent failures.

The PML-Q chief voiced satisfaction with the law and order situation in Karachi. “The peace of Karachi will affect the whole country,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2015.