Zardari asks Nawaz to end confrontation with Altaf

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

President Asif Ali Zardari called PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Thursday and advised him against prolonging his confrontation with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, according to PPP sources.

“President Zardari called Nawaz Sharif and discussed the current political situation in the country,” presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

Mr Zardari had called MQM chief Altaf Hussain on Wednesday night and assured him that the PPP would soon address his party’s grievances. The president was also reported to have told Mr Hussain that the political rift between the MQM and PML-N should be resolved soon.

According to the sources, during his telephonic conversation with Mr Sharif, the president said that political confrontation could harm the democratic system.

They said Mr Zardari had urged the two parties’ chiefs to stop their leaders from issuing derogatory and uncivilised statements against each other.

The ongoing war of words between the two parties took a new and ugly turn on Wednesday when Chuadhry Nisar Ali Khan, of the PML-N, and Haider Abbas Rizvi and Waseem Ahmed, of the Muttahida, hit each other below the belt and used unparliamentary language outside the Parliament House.

Mr Babar said the president had met PPP leaders in Sindh on Thursday night and discussed PPP-MQM relations. The president barred PPP leaders from issuing provocative statements against the MQM, assuring that its concerns would be addressed.

In reply to a question, the spokesman ruled out the possibility of removal of Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza on the demand of the MQM. He said that Mr Mirza had also been directed to avoid giving statements against the Muttahida.

Mr Mirza had in a recent statement alleged that the MQM was involved in targeted killings in Karachi.