Wednesday, April 9, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 2,1429    

Shujaat hints at unification of PML Q, PML-F

Karachi—In the aftermath of the ugly incident at Sindh Assembly building on Saturday and again on Monday, a consensus has developed for unification of PML (Q) and PML (F). The unification issue emerged in a meeting held after a long time between President PML (Q) Ch Shujaat Hussain and President PML(F) Pir Pagara at Kingri House here Tuesday.

Ch. Shujaat accompanied by former caretaker information minister Nisar A. Memon, former information minister Mohammed Ali Durrani, former federal minister Ghaus Bux Khan Mahar, former chief minister Sindh Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, PML leader Tariq Hasan, Tuesday visited Kingri House where this meeting took place.

Addressing a largely attended press conference at the residence of former chief minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim after the meetings with MQM Leaders at its headquarter Nine Zero, Pir Pagara at Kingri House and Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi at Jatoi House, Ch Shujaat said a consensus developed between him and Pir Pagara for the need for unification of their respective leagues.

He said that he told Pir Pagara that since he is a highly respectable personality among Muslim Leaguers and is taken in high esteem, he should lead the unified League while Pagara told him that he should lead the unified party. Referring to Monday’s ugly incident at Sindh Assembly building where former chief minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim was maltreated while he was leaving the Assembly building after taking oath as MPA, Ch Shujaat said they had supported the reconciliation process in greater national interest.

He said that at that time he had stated that they would sit in the opposition and would support the government for its good works but oppose the wrong doings and for that purpose they gave vote of confidence to Yousuf Raza Gilani as Prime Minister.—APP