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Another round today

Govt, MQM

talks

'positive'

KARACHI: 'Positive talks' were held here on Tuesday between the government and the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) for restoring peace and improving the law and order situation in Karachi.

The talks which continued for two hours and fifteen minutes at the Sindh Governor House will be continued on Wednesday at 4 pm at the same venue.

Leader of the government team and federal minister for law and justice N.D. Khan and head of the MQM team Ajmal Dehlavi both told newsmen after the talks that these were held "in a good atmosphere."

"We stressed on joint efforts to restore law and order in Karachi," they added.

N.D. Khan said: "It has been a very good, fruitful and positive start. We will proceed further on positive points at tomorrow's talks," he added.

Answering a question be said: "We are still in the negotiations. We are working for improving peace in the city through joint efforts."

He said that both sides discussed the developments which took place since the last round was held on July 24. "We discussed all issues, point by, point. In totality, we examined the whole situation."

Ajmal Dehlavi while replying to a question said that in negotiations on Wednesday they will consider suggestions which will have good impact on the political situation.

He, however, maintained that it was for the government to decide how to restore peace in the city and stop the operation.

Asked about the statement of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto that the MQM should agree on a ceasefire for six months in Karachi, Dehlavi replied that the chief of the MQM, Altaf Hussain, should reply to this.

The government's team included two members of the National Assembly Afaq Shahid and Zuhair Akram Nadeem.

The MQM side comprised Shoaib Bukhari, Tariq Javed, Qazi Khalid Ali and Shaikh Liaquat Hussain.-PPI