PPP, MQM, ANP agree to settle differences

All three parties of the provincial ruling coalition have agreed, on Thursday, to resolve their differences on four burning issues that have widened the gulf between the MQM and the ANP. “It was decided at a meeting that criminals will be dealt with according to the law without taking their affiliations into consideration,” said a Governor’s House spokesman in a statement. The PPP, that leads the coalition government, also joined the MQM and ANP in their talks that were held at the Governor House on Thursday.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad who originally hails from the MQM mediated between the two squabbling parties. ANP's Amin Khattak told Daily Times that the ruling parties' leaders exchanged views on Talibanisation in Karachi, displacement of Pukhtoons from some areas, occupation of government land by land encroachment mafia and the law and order situation. After a three hour long meeting they agreed to form a six-member committee that will formally explore ways and means to address these four issues.

The committee comprises of two members from each party. Faisal Abedi and Saeed Ghani who were not at the meeting were named from the PPP. Khattak and Abdul Rahim Mandokhel were named by the ANP. MQM's Waseem Aftab and Hammad will represent their party in the committee. "The committee will further expand the contacts and keep a strict vigil on Talibanisation, sectarianism, ethnic nationalism and land grab mafia," said the Governor House's statement. Those who attended the meeting were, Provincial Ministers Pir Mazharul ul Haq and Dr Zulfiqar Mirza from the PPP, Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Babar Ghauri, Shoaib Bukhari, Faisal Sabzwari and some other members from the MQM and Shahi Syed, Khattak, Mehmood Afridi and Nasim ur Rehman from the ANP.

An uneasy calm prevailed in many areas of the city due to the tension between the ANP and MQM after MQM chief Altaf Hussain claimed that Karachi was on the verge of Talibanisation. Complaints of displacement and manhandling were also reported in Liaquatabad, Quaidabad and Azizabad. Sindh governor said that strict laws will be introduced to reclaim land from the land grabbing mafia and they will be punished. Illegal occupation will be withdrawn following the directives of President Asif Zardari. "Nobody will be allowed to occupy government land on ethnic, political and religious basis," he warned. City Nazim Mustafa Kamal also attended the meeting.