F.P. Report
KARACHI: Former prime minister and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif held a detailed meeting with MQM-Pakistan leaders in Karachi on Friday, seeking a good working relationship “in the future”.
Besides delivering an important message from PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif to the MQM-P leadership, Shehbaz Sharif also discussed possible electoral alliance and seat adjustment.
Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif, along with other party leaders arrived at the Markaz of MQM-P in Bahadurabad area of Karachi. The MQM-P leaderss including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal, Aminul Haque, and others welcomed the PML-N leaders.
The meeting was attended by prominent leaders of both political parties including Mustafa Kamal, Dr Farooq Sattar, Aminul Haque, Nasreen Jalil, Javed Hanif, Anees Qaimkhani and others.
Addressing joint presser after the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said “I have come here to meet MQM leaders and jointly decide the ways to stabilize Pakistan. Our relationship with the MQM is decades-old and the PML-N wants to face challenges jointly with the Muttahida.”
Shehbaz Sharif also called for teamwork and collective efforts to end the woes of the people of Karachi, stressing that the upcoming elections would determine the city’s fate.
The PML-N president recalled the collective gains both parties had achieved through their partnership during the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government. “I want to say this without any fear that I found MQM-P leaders very enthusiastic,” he added.
Shehbaz maintained the upcoming elections would decide if Pakistan wanted to embark on the development path but at the same time warned that some elements sought to see division in the country. “There is only one solution to this. these elections have to prove whether the political leadership can resolve this situation with mutual consultation,” he stressed.
Responding to a query regarding term ladla (blue-eyed) Nawaz Sharif is labelled with, Shehbaz questioned whether a ladla was someone who had been arrested in front of his daughter and stripped of premiership. “No, a ladla is the person who is greeted in courts with ‘good to see you’ comment,” he added.
Shehbaz said untiring efforts were required to give Karachi its due share. “Undoubtedly, I am sure this city’s fate will change after these elections, but this requires teamwork. No single person can handle these changes alone,” he added.
Shehbaz sheds light on Karachi’s economic vitality
Shedding light on the importance of Karachi, Shehbaz Sharif has said that its economy is equal to half of the country’s total economy and the city is called Pakistan’s gateway. Talking to the media prior to his meeting with MQM leaders, the former prime minister said Karachi is the City of Lights and its importance is paramount when it comes to generating the country’s wealth.
He said that before Nawaz Sharif’s stint in 1990s, the city was roiled from lawlessness and dead bodies packed in sacks used to litter the roads. He said that the Nawaz-led government had restored peace in Karachi and consequently, the business environment in the city saw an improvement.
He said that there was no denying the fact that Karachi’s peace was shattered in 1997 but Nawaz Sharif reestablished the government writ in the city.
“Had the government of Nawaz Sharif not toppled at that time, the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway project would have been completed”.
Shehbaz said that the PML-N would take part in the electioneering under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. He said that the party would soon unveil its manifesto before the nation.
He maintained that his party wanted to make the youth of this country skillful. “We want to impart education of Information technology to the young people as empowering youth is part of our agenda.”
He said that the youth of Pakistan would participate in the elections which are scheduled to be held on February 8.
The PML-N president lamented that the city which pays the highest tax is deprived of drinking water.
He also promised to unveil the party’s plan to end unemployment in the country.
Shehbaz Sharif has gone to Karachi to hold a meeting with the leaders of the Mutahidda Quami Movement-Pakistan to discuss election-related issues including seat adjustments and election alliance.
The decision would also be taken on whether Shehbaz Sharif would contest the election from NA 242, Karachi in the meeting.
It bears mentioning that the MQM-P has flatly refused seat adjustment on the seat of NA-242, while efforts are being made that Shehbaz Sharif would contest and win the seat from Karachi.
