A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation on Tuesday met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership in a bid to forge "national unity" with a view to steering the county out of numerous crises.
A three-member MQM delegation comprising its parliamentary leader in National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri and Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi held talks with PML-N leaders, including Senator Ishaq Dar and Pervez Rasheed, here at Punjab House and discussed the current political situation.
Sources within the two parties said that they also discussed ways and means to bring various political parties together with a view to overcoming the current political and economic challenges the country faced. However, no final decision has been taken as the leadership of both the parties agreed to carry forward the consultation process in this regard.
Later, talking to media persons, MQM leader Farooq Sattar called upon the political forces to come together to provide relief to the people, as no single political party would be able to handle the situation. "All the political parties have only one option...to work jointly, otherwise they will be held responsible for success or failure," he cautioned. He further said that his party had initiated to work on bringing all political forces to a single platform to handle the ongoing crises in the country. In this context, he added that the MQM delegation discussed ways and means with PML-N leadership to chalk out a joint strategy.
About the agenda of the meeting, Sattar said it was aimed at discussing the country's security and stability. He added that they were working on a "national agenda". He said they discussed the current situation of the country and also conveyed to PML-N leaders MQM chief Altaf Hussain's concerns about the internal and external threats to the country.
Referring to MQM chief's statement, Sattar said security and stability of the country would be in grave danger if the current law and order situation persisted. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said his party and MQM were unanimous on views in relation to identification and solution of people's problems. He said it was the responsibility of political forces to come forward and play a vital role towards the development and prosperity of the country. He further said the deteriorating economy of the country needed a rapid response and revolutionary steps to solve the economic problems and provide relief to the masses.
The PML-N leader said his party's chief had already forwarded a national charter which was the need of the hour to steer the country out of the prevailing economic and security. He, however, said that PML-N was of the view that a viable solution to country's problems lay in general election, which should be held forthwith.