Altaf, Imran vow to work together for country

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan made a telephonic contact on Saturday and vowed to work together for the betterment of the country, forgetting their past differences.
Both leaders talked on different challenges faced by the country like, inflation, corruption, drone attacks, Raymond Davis’ release, Dr Aafia Siddiqi’s arrest and others.
Imran and Altaf vowed to continue better relationship with each other on issues of the country

MQM team to meet Zardari, Ebad today

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation will meet President Asif Zardari and Governor Ishratul Ebad today. The MQM team, led by Dr Farooq Sattar will meet the governor at 7pm today at the Governor House. The meeting will discuss the relationship between the MQM and PPP and also the future strategy. The team will meet the president at 10pm at the Bilawal House. The sources told the media that the Sindh governor and Interior Minister Rehman Malik will also participate in the meeting. Some important decisions are expected in the MQM’s meeting with the president today.

Govt decides to slash oil prices by 50pc

ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh said the government has decided to curtail the prices of petroleum products by 50 percent.

Talking to media after holding meeting with a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement late Thursday night, he said the petroleum products surged 26 percent at international level.

The federal finance minister said the notification in this connection would be issued tomorrow after eliciting formal approval from Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Later, Muttahida leader Farooq Sattar urged the government to focus those sectors which were long neglected in past and that the tax net should be widened, adding the party succeeded in winning relief for the people.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik lauded the federal finance minister for his competence, adding it is very difficult for any government to retract the set prices.

Malik said the negotiations with MQM proved successful, adding serving the people of the country form the manifestos of MQM and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). 

He further said the two parties will continue working in sync for the well being of the people. The federal interior minister urged the transporters to call off their strike, adding, “If people are in trouble, we all feel the same.

MQM likely to join PPP-led government

Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has decided to offer at least three vital ministries to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), after which Muttahida began mulling over re-joining the federal cabinet.

According to sources, two MQM’s ministers will take oath in a couple of next days. The sources also confirmed that the government is in wait for the decisions of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) to be made in a meeting on February 25.

According to sources, the final decision regarding the expansion of the cabinet, will be made after PML-N meeting and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf  Raza Gilani will formally invite MQM ministers to join the cabinet. 

The sources said MQM is expected to be given the ministries of Ports and Shipping, Education and Housing. 

At the same time, Muttahida also signaled its willingness to fall in line with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) by joining the government

Altaf urges PM Gilani to tackle Karachi’s extortionists

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Friday called Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and urged him to stop extortionists destroying business activities in the city.
The MQM chief said the extortionists give threats to the traders and their families in the city. he was talking with the premier on telephone.
Both leaders exchanged their views on political situation of the country and deteriorating law and order condition of Punjab.
The prime minister assured the MQM chief of protection to the traders of Karachi.

Altaf says may don army uniform, if needed

Staff Report

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said he would return to Pakistan, if needed, clad in military uniform, to save people from feudal lords, dacoits, and capitalists.

In a telephonic address to the reinstated employees of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) at party headquarters Nine-Zero here on Monday, Altaf Hussain said revolution has become the destiny of the entire country.

‘It was unjust to render thousands of laborers jobless. This was the very reason that I directed Sindh Governor (Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan) not to flinch back on the issue, even if he has to sacrifice governorship for the purpose,’ Altaf remarked.

MQM chief urged the nation to make itself accustomed to hard work in the footsteps of Chinese people, so that it will not have to beg aid from countries called super power.

On this occasion, he said, “If I have to come back to the country with military uniform on to make country sovereign, I will not mind it.”

“The incidents of terrorism, killings and kidnapping for ransom are at their peak in Punjab where life and property of the people is no longer secure,” Altaf stressed proposing to the Army ‘to control the situation made worse by lawlessness, bad governance and rampant crimes’.

If Punjab’s government is unable to deliver, then the federal government should rise up to give relief to people by imposing martial law in the province, he added.

Altaf Hussain said public gathering being held on January 30, will get together all ethnic units of Pakistan under one flag, stressing the rulings by judiciary are appreciable; however, they are not being put into action.