Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and MQM leader Altaf Hussain on Saturday held discussion on national issues and reiterated their support for the consolidation and strengthening of democracy. The Prime Minister, who is in a private visit to London in connection with the treatment of his son Haider Gilani, drove to the North London residence of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader after attending a lunch hosted in his honour by Federal Interior Rahman Malik.
The Prime Minister thanked the MQM leader for the good wishes and prayers for the speedy recovery and health of his son. He also appreciated the gesture shown by the MQM for sending a delegation to meet his son in the hospital. Gilani said that he was taking all political parties along in the greater national interest and without any discrimination in the governance of the country.
Interior Minister Rahman Malik and Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan accompanied the Prime Minister at the meeting. Members of the MQM Central Co-ordination Committee were also present. The Prime Minister in his hour-long meeting noted the MQM's support at the Centre and said that he was thankful to the party in this regard which had gone a long way in the consolidation of democracy in the country.
Gilani called for respecting mandate of the political parties. He also appreciated the endeavours of the MQM to expand into other provinces and in this regard mentioned the Sunday's public rally of the party in Lahore and wished it all success. Altaf Hussain appreciated the political sagacity of the Prime Minister and appreciated his policy of consensus politics. He thanked the Prime Minister for visiting him at his residence and said he had been honoured. The MQM leader further said that his party "speaks for all the people of Pakistan and not only those who speak Urdu." He said the political parties would have to rise above the linguistic divide in the greater national interests, unity and solidarity.
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