Daily Times

KARACHI: The negotiations between the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and the protesting Muttehida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ended without any proper assurances from the federal government.

The crucial meeting between the leaders of the PML-N and MQM was held at Punjab House in Karachi on Monday.

The PML-N was represented by Federal Minister for Information Senator Parveez Rasheed, MPA Ismail Rahu and Shah Muhammad Shah, while the MQM’s side was represented by MNA Dr Farooq Sattar, Kanwar Naveed Jameel and Khawaja Sohail Mansoor.

According to sources, the prime minister, Mian Muhamamd Nawaz Sharif had sent federal information minister to hold talks with the protesting MQM and listen to their grievances.

“It was scheduled that Parveez Rasheed will first hold talks with MQM delegation at Punjab House, after that the federal minister would visit the hunger strike camp organized by the MQM outside Karachi Press Club. However, the federal minister headed directly to the airport as the talks between the PML-N and MQM faced a deadlock”, sources added.

The MQM has been demanding lifting on what it termed as ‘unannounced ban on media coverage on its leader Altaf Hussain, disappearances of its party workers, and the arrests of its leaders etc.

While listening to their grievances, the federal minister informed the MQM delegation that he would place their demands before the premier and the final decision would be taken by him.

Later, the MQM delegation also called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the Chief Minister’s House. The MQM delegation was headed by Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hassan.

The members of MQM delegation included Syed Sardar Ahmed, Mohammad Hussain, Kanwar Naveed and Khuwaja Sohail Mansoor. The chief minister was assisted by Senior Minister Nisar Khuhro, Advisors to CM Mola Bux Chandio and Murtaza Wahab

The MQM leaders told the chief minister that their workers have been forcefully disappeared. Extra-judicial killing of their workers was being done in the city. While talking to the delegation, the chief minister said he would not allow injustice or victimization of any political worker or party but `would not allow anybody to take law in his hands.”

The chief minister said that he has directed Law Enforcement agencies to release the workers who have been found innocent in the interrogation. “As far as the criminals are concerned he would never support anybody or political party, come what may,” he said.

The chief minister said that he was ready to constitute a committee to readdress their grievances. The composition and the ToR’s of the committee would be made latter on.