WASHINGTON, Feb 3: The MQM was ready to participate in elections on a 24-hour notice, said the party’s parliamentary leader Farooq Sattar, although he also said he was not implying that the elections would be held in a few days.

Addressing Pakistani journalists in Washington, Mr Sattar said members of the ruling coalition had decided to set a timetable for the general election after the Senate elections due in March.

“We will make sure that the elections are fair and free and the working and middle class Pakistanis do get a fair chance to elect their representatives,” he said. “We will also consult the opposition before setting an election date.” Mr Sattar also expressed satisfaction with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s decision to appear before the Supreme Court and noted that all coalition partners supported this decision.

Refusing to comment on the merits of the contempt case against the prime minister, he said the MQM only wanted that all decisions should abide by legal and constitutional requirements.

Mr Sattar disagreed with the suggestion that since the MQM was a coalition partner, it also shared a collective responsibility for all the decisions taken by the government.

“This coalition includes parties with different backgrounds and beliefs and with different political pursuits,” he said while also rejecting the suggestion that the MQM should leave the coalition.