President of Pakistan Peoples Party, Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, has said stage to offer participation in the formation of government in Sindh to Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has not yet reached.
He was addressing a press conference on Friday at his residence to apprise the newsmen about meetings of the PPP leaders with different political parties, including the MQM, and engaging them in dialogues for the formation of a national consensus government. He said that MQM was a reality and the mandate the people had given to it must be acknowledged.
"We respect the mandate the MQM has been given," he added. He said that on Thursday a three-member team, comprising N. D. Khan, Misbah-ur-Rehman and myself, had called on the MQM leaders and exchanged views on how Sindh could be served best.
Shah said that the meeting with the MQM was very fruitful as both sides showed a sense of accommodation for each other. He said there was a realisation that politics of confrontation would not pay. "We have agreed to work together for the welfare of the people of Sindh.
"The MQM shares the same views that PPP holds on a number of national interest issues," he said. Shah said: "It was an initial meeting to pave the way for further talks. More such meetings are likely to follow. Result is encouraging. We were welcome at the MQM headquarters and the two sides exchanged good wishes for each other."
He said that except for the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), doors were open for all political parties, willing to form a national government, having faith in the principles of democracy, tolerance, sense of accommodation and a will to take Pakistan forward.
He said that PML (Q) was not a political party. "It is just a collection of self-seeking individuals gathered under the PML (Q) banner. We do not recognise them as a political entity." When asked how would he reconcile with the proposition, floated by President of Balochistan PPP Sardar Lashkari Raisani, willing to join PML (Q)-led government in Balochistan "in the greater national interest," he evaded the answer.
He said that it was the policy of the PPP to keep PML (Q) at a distance and did not "enter into any kind of dialogue with them. They are our worst enemies and damaged PPP interest in Sindh. Any thought of talking with them is out of the question," he added.
He said that by and large, turnout in the February 18 election was more than expected. "It would not be wrong to say it was better than what the PPP had witnessed in 1970 election." Shah said that the PPP was the only party, which had its roots in all the four provinces. The turnout in Sindh was still better than its previous records.
In three provinces, the PPP would have its coalition partners in the formation of government, whereas in Sindh, the PPP had the majority to form the government without asking others to join it, he added. However, he said that they believed in partnership and taking all the stakeholders on board in political process. There was room for consideration of options, he added.
He said that generally the elections were fair and transparent, but complaints of "massive, selective and planned rigging" were received. He said that the PPP had already lodged complaints with appropriate courts and with the Election Commission of Pakistan. Other senior PPP leaders, who were present at the press conference included, among others, Habibuddin Junaidee, Waqar Mehdi, Saeed Ghani, Masroor Ahsan, Rafiq Engineer, Afaq Shahid, Rashid Rabbani, and N. D. Khan.