‘Positive headway’ made in talks with PTI: Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui

F.P. Report

KARACHI: MQM-Pakistan leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that a “healthy and positive” progress was made in second rounds of talks with a PTI team, formed by Prime Minister Imran Khan to address reservations of its disenchanted coalition partners.

“The talks were held in a very conducive environment and InshaAllah (God willing) in a few weeks’ time people would see positive outcome,” said the MQM convener while addressing a joint press conference in Karachi following the meeting on Saturday evening.

Siddiqui had resigned from his post as federal minister for information technology and telecommunication over non-release of funds for the municipalities in Karachi on Sunday.

PTI’s delegation, comprising Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, senior PTI leader Jhangeer Tareen and Firdous Shamim Naqvi among other, met the MQM-P leadership at their party headquarter in Karachi to address their grievances.

Siddiqui, while addressing the presser, said the urban areas of Sindh suffered due to the government’s negligence and needed financial assistance on an emergency basis.

“People and traders of Karachi fulfill their responsibilities and they pay the highest taxes in the country … the city deserves its fair share in development funds in return.”

Khalid said that his party had promised to support the PTI government at the Centre and “they will continue to do so”.

Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister Khattak thanked the leadership of the MQM-Pakistan, saying: “MQM-P is our coalition partner and they will not part ways [with us]”.

He said they inherited the country’s economy in a very dire straits but the government is now moving in the right direction to stabilise it.

“We did not make any false promises with our allies and we don’t have a magic wand to resolve all issues overnight.”