KARACHI, April 8: In what appears to be an attempt to reunite pro-Musharraf parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain visited Karachi on Tuesday and held meetings with former coalition partners to muster their support for former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim who was manhandled in the Sindh Assembly on Monday.

During his whirlwind visit, Chaudhry Shujaat called on PML-Functional chief Pir Pagara, leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and veteran politician and founder of the National Peoples Party Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi.

He was accompanied by PML-Q Sindh president Dr Arbab Rahim, former federal minister for information Mohammad Ali Durrani, Senator Nisar Memon, Ghous Baksh Mahar and others.

The lawmakers of the MQM, PML-F and NPP boycotted the assembly session on Monday in protest against the manhandling of Dr Rahim. The also did not attend the Tuesday’s session in which the newly elected chief minister secured a vote of confidence.

At the Kingri House, Pir Pagara strongly condemned the manhandling and said that the incident forced him to believe that the provincial assembly would not last more than three months.

On the request of Chaudhry Shujaat, Pir Pagara agreed to nominate Dr Arbab Rahim as their opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly. Jam Madad Ali of the PML-F would be the deputy opposition leader.

Pir Pagara appreciated MQM’s decision of boycotting the assembly session.

Later, Chaudhry Shujaat visited the MQM headquarters Nine Zero and discussed the matter with Dr Farooq Sattar, Adil Siddiqui, Babar Ghauri and other leaders. MQM chief Altaf Hussain also joined the meeting over phone from London.

Mr Hussain said Monday’s incident was a conspiracy to sabotage the democratic process. “It was such a shameful incident that despite having some rounds of power-sharing talks with the PPP, the MQM legislators had to boycott the assembly session and oath-taking ceremony of Qaim Ali Shah,” he added.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Sattar said the Pakistan People’s Party should take responsibility for the incident and take action against those responsible for the manhandling, failing which the MQM would bring to light the names of “perpetrators and their sponsors”.

He said the world had seen PPP workers ruining the democratic and parliamentary traditions.

He also accused PPP workers of booing MQM’s women legislators, searching their vehicles and labelling them as terrorists.

In reply to question whether his visit was aimed at forming a combined opposition, Chaudhry Shujaat said the “prevailing situation” would automatically create a combined opposition.

Dr Rahim criticised PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for not condemning the beating.

Later Chaudhry Shujaat called on NPP leader Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi at his residence.

Mr Jatoi condemned the manhandling of Arbab Rahim and said: “Perhaps we never learnt a lesson from past. If this is the way to bring in undiluted democracy then God alone can help democracy and future of Pakistan.”

When whether he would support the move for a combined opposition, the veteran politician told Dawn that the NPP was part of the opposition, but as an independent party it was not be part of the combined opposition.

Speaking at a press conference at Dr Arbab Rahim’s residence, Chaudhry Shujaat accused the PPP of pushing the country towards civil war and derailing democracy.

He said that the PML-Q would boycott the coming session of the Punjab Assembly and register its protest in the National Assembly and Senate as well.

Chaudhry Shujaat said that his party would not register an FIR because television footage was enough to expose the culprits.

“If PPP offers an unconditional apology and accepts responsibility for the incident, the PML-Q will decide about its future course,” he added.

About his meeting with Pir Pagara, Chaudhry Shujaat said that both sides expressed their desire to merge the two factions of the Muslim League. He said he had expressed a desire that the reunited PML should be headed by Pir Sahib.