Why is PPP talking with terrorists?
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\06\29\story_29-6-2007_pg7_8
LAHORE: Senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders are in the process of establishing high-level contacts to discuss pre- and post-election adjustments, particularly in Sindh, Daily Times has learnt.
According to PPP sources, senior party leaders have been in contact with MQM leaders in Sindh to discuss pre- and post-election adjustments in order to amass an absolute majority against the ruling PML. The sources disclosed that the PPP and MQM leaders met recently to discuss the adjustments as well as the current political situation. During the meeting, the MQM leaders told the PPP leaders that they would not enter into a pre-election alliance as this was against party policy and had never been done since the party was established. However, they said they would not rule out a post-election alliance, the PPP sources added.
The MQM leaders clarified that though they could not take any decisions on the matter, they would forward their recommendations to the central coordination committee, which would then send the proposals on to party chief Altaf Hussain for approval.
At the meeting, the MQM leaders also expressed reservations regarding the behaviour of PPP leaders in Punjab who were continuously condemning the party for its alleged involvement in the May 12 carnage in Karachi. The PPP leaders told them that it was a policy of the joint opposition in Punjab to participate in the strike call and perspectives on the issue differed from province to province.
The PPP leaders in turn also expressed their own reservations with reference to past elections in which the MQM had openly come down hard on the PPP leadership, particularly in Sindh. The MQM team assured them that this would not happen in the future and said both parties had to show tolerance and respect for each other if they wanted to establish a lasting political relationship.
A senior PPP leader, speaking to Daily Times on condition of anonymity, said the party had been in contact with all parties and was reviewing its options in every province. He said the PPP, being the biggest political party in the country, had been meeting with other political parties to ascertain their points of view on the forthcoming general elections. In terms of establishing an alliance with the MQM, the PPP leader said he could not say anything at present but confirmed that talks had been taking place between the two parties last week. He did not reveal the names of the leaders participating in these meetings but disclosed that contacts had been established at the request of the senior leaders of both parties.
Senior MQM leader MNA Haider Rizvi told Daily Times that the party had never closed the doors on talks, especially to discuss the forthcoming elections. He confirmed that the party had been in contact with all political parties, including PPP and the PML, to discuss possible post-election alliances. He said the MQM had nothing against the PPP but reiterated that the party never entered into alliances with national or regional parties before general elections, only after.
