PPP-MQM talks in UAE deadlocked: MQM maintains Zardari should 'sacrifice'

[Naveed Yaseen]

Malik says talks successful; Babar says agreement reached on regular contacts to resolve differences; abortive attempt by Shaukat Aziz to mediate on behalf of Musharraf

By Dr Shahid Masood

ABU DHABI: Crucial talks between the MQM and the PPP remained deadlocked on Friday here in the UAE capital as the MQM stuck to its demand that Zardari should resign and offer sacrifice to save democracy.

The venue of the talks was shifted to Abu Dhabi at the request of Interior Minister Rehman Malik to ensure secrecy. The MQM delegation was led by Anwar Bhai, Governor Ishratul Ebad and Federal Minister Babar Ghauri. Rehman Malik, assisted by Sindh Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza, represented the PPP.

Interestingly, the talks were held at the same hotel in Abu Dhabi where the NRO was conceived between Benazir Bhutto and General Pervez Musharraf in January 2007. It died where it was born.

In a surprising development in this regard, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz suddenly appeared in Dubai and wanted to play a mediatory role between the PPP and MQM, apparently on behalf of General Pervez Musharraf, who is keen to see the current set-up going because if Zardari is removed and somehow Nawaz Sharif comes to power, Musharraf feels his life would become miserable.

Governor Dr Ishartul Ebad, while talking to this correspondent, only said that “all matters have been settled”. He did not disclose the details of what had been discussed and what had been settled.

However, the MQM side maintained its strong reservations over the NRO, saying that the party would in no way vote in its favour and that President Zardari should give the sacrifice needed to save the system.

MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain was consulted during the talks but nothing changed. The smaller issues of local government and the PPP-MQM relations in Sindh were not discussed at all. The PPP side, sources revealed, tried its level best to involve a regional or an international guarantor but none was available. Efforts were made by an important Pakistani diplomat in Washington to persuade the Obama administration to intervene, but in vain Shaukat Azizís attempt to play a role was rejected by the MQM side as well as the PPP as he was considered as an emissary of General Musharraf, who had his own axe to grind to ensure that the talks succeeded.

A proposal by the PPP that a legal committee be set up to examine the NRO was rejected by the MQM as the party did not want the ordinance to die its own death. MQM sources said a proposal by Rehman Malik to continue the talks in London with Altaf Hussain was shot down and a proposed visit by the interior minister was not considered to be necessary.

On the other hand, Rehman Malik told a senior editor of The News in Islamabad that the talks had succeeded and the MQM was fully on board. However, he did not elaborate. Malik also denied reports that he had escaped from the country and would be away for at least 15 days. He would be coming back to Islamabad on Saturday.

Fasahat Mohiuddin adds from Karachi: Federal Minister Babar Ghauri told The News that Altaf Hussain had talked to Rehman Malik on telephone. Altaf told the interior minister that the MQM wanted to strengthen the democratic process and the president should make all decisions keeping in view the prevailing conditions.

Altaf further hailed the government’s decision of not presenting the NRO in parliament on the MQM’s suggestion. While replying a query, Babar said Rehman Malik had assured that all the promises made by the government would be fulfilled.

Babar said it was also decided in the meeting that all the political issues should be decided in a political manner and regular meetings would be held so that differences are resolved amicably. When the Sindh governor was asked whether the MQM raised the issue of local bodies, he said the issue were not discussed. He said the response of the governmentís side was positive and the president was keen to resolve the grievances of the MQM.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25421