Qaim welcomes MQM to Sindh govt

KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) welcomes the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) decision of rejoining the provincial government.

“MQM leaders are our friends and we keep in touch with them,” he said in a statement issued here.

The chief minister said that the rift between the two parties was not wide enough to keep them apart any longer, adding that the decision of rejoining the coalition was taken by the ‘elders’.

Shah said that a two-member committee would be formed soon to negotiate with the MQM.

The MQM had parted ways with the ruling party in Sindh after developing differences against the backdrop of ongoing operation in Karachi to eradicate it of criminals and terrorists.

The party has claimed that the operation by security agencies was targeting innocent MQM workers.

Meanwhile, sources said the PPP and MQM leadership were meeting late Wednesday to deliberate matters pertaining to forming of government. CM Shah, Governor Ishratul Ebad, Rehman Malik, Sharjeel Memon, Nisar Khuhro and Murad Ali Shah were reported to be part of the meeting.