KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) and Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) parley on defusing prime hurdle of re-visiting delimitation in Karachi for holding Local Body election ended inconclusive at Bilawal House here. Talks between ruling PPP and MQM-P remained inconclusive as deadlock persisted on core issues.

More than two-hour long meeting was attended by MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Waseem Akhtar, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Faisal Sabzwari and Javed Hanif. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and provincial ministers Nasir Hussain Shah, Sharjeel Memon, Murtaza Wahab and others represented PPP.  Key session was held to mull over MQM-P reservations on Sindh government following non-fulfilment of its demands including changes in delimitations.

Sources said that recent meeting between MQM-P and PPP at Bilawal House remained inconclusive. Moreover, MQM-P leadership set condition to contest LG polls with new delimitations.

MQM-P delegation expressed serious reservations about present delimitations. They said that MQM-P will unveil its next strategy if LG polls are held on basis of present delimitations.

Sources said that MQM-P delegation reached Sindh Governor's House again after holding meeting with PPP top leadership at Bilawal House. An important meeting will be held between MQM-P leaders and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori. Sources said that MQM-P and PPP are likely to hold another consultative session in a few days.

Sources in MQM-P claimed that party leader were of the view that they will draw fresh line of action after another meeting to be scheduled today. In the meantime, MQM-P will convene party workers meeting to decide whether it should remain in coalition if their demand were not met.

MQM-P is adamant on new delimitation of constituencies in urban areas and attached to be stayed as ally in Centre. Sources in party claimed, "PPP is not serious in tackling this issue and wants to grabs urban areas". On other hand, PPP said that within short of period of time, it is not possible to carry out delimitation process and, "It is purely job of Election Commission and process will take atleast three to four months for afresh delimitation in urban areas".

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 03 2023

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