MQM leader Farooq Sattar. -File Photo

LAHORE: A high level delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) met the leadership of the Jamaat-i-Islami leadership and shared views on current national scenario on Tuesday.

The MQM delegation was led by the Federal Minister Dr Farooq Sattar and comprising Rabita Committee members Raza Haroon, Wasey Jalil, Iftikhar Randhawa, Kunwar Naveed and others while JI Ameer Syed Munawar Hasan was accompanied by JI Naib Ameer Dr Muhammad Kamal, JI Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch,Deputy Secretary General Fareed Paracha and former MNA Hafiz Salman Butt.

Talking to media persons, Dr Farooq Sattar said that the MQM had embarked on a drive to meet the political parties on the directions by MQM chief Altaf Hussain to unite all political forces on a common broad based consensus for national security.

He added that the MQM delegation had already met President Asif Ali Zardari while other meetings were also due with the PML-Q and ANP leadership on the same agenda.

Dr Farooq Sattar said that during the meeting with JI leadership at Mansoora, the two sides discussed the Karachi situation, movement of US ships in coastal areas, loadshedding, economic situation and the upcoming elections.

Farooq Sattar added that in the present situation, no single political party could solve the problems facing the country and the nation. He said, even in the coming elections, a split mandate was expected and the political parties inside the parliament and those outside would have to evolve a national consensus on national security.

Ameer of the Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hasan addressing the media, reiterated his proposal for forging a grand alliance of the political parties.

Munawar Hasan said that a grand alliance was essential to press for setting up an interim government. He said he had already invited Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan and PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif to join the grand alliance.

The JI Ameer said that a complete national harmony was the foremost need of the time and political workers should continue meeting one another as it helped in removing misunderstandings and resolving serious national issues like Balochistan unrest, Karachi target killing, power crises and price hike.

He turned down the idea of Dr Farooq Sattar for holding an all parties conference or a round table moot in connection with the letter to be written to the Swiss authorities.

Referring to the MQM leaders’ concern in connection with the arrival of the US naval ships in Pakistan coastal area, he said the JI had launched a Go America Go campaign a couple years back and it would welcome any party that joined the drive.