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PML-N, PPP agree to confront anti-democratic forces

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah presenting a cheque of Rs. 50 million for Waziristan IDPs to the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at PM House.   Related News     COAS opens trade route in South Waziristan Agency Zarb-e-Azb launched on PPP's pressure: Bilawal   Related Articles     Zarb-e-Azb: Though late! But still in time By Zaheerul Hassan Efforts to Spoil Civil-Military Relations By Asif Haroon Raja   More on this   View All COAS opens trade route in South Waziristan Agency Zarb-e-Azb launched on PPP's pressure: Bilawal Govt, army will jointly reconstruct NWA: PM Nawaz Taliban have lost capability to carry out coordinated attacks: ISPR NSC calls for 'long-term' strategy against terrorism and extremism 20 terrorists killed in Shawal as forces clear parts of Mirali Govt, military worried over non-conviction of terrorists

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) decided to confront the anti-democratic elements to safeguard democracy at all costs.

The understanding was developed during a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah held here at the Prime Minister House on Monday. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, PPP leader Zamurad Khan, Prime Minister's Secretary Javed Aslam and Special Secretary to the Prime Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad were also present on the occasion.

Nawaz Sharif, Qaim Ali Shah and Syed Khursheed Shah had candid discussion regarding political situation prevailing in the country and issues related to the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) from North Waziristan Agency (NWA). It was the first occasion that two leaders from Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah had meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif together. The understanding of the three leaders for contesting the anti-democratic elements is a first political breakthrough and big rejoinder to the threats mongers by the two major political forces of the country.

The sources privy to the discussion of the meeting told later in the evening that the PPP leaders assured the prime minister that people who were trying to destabilise the system through their unwarranted agitation and destructive activities wouldn't be allowed to succeed.

The participants of the meeting were unanimous on protecting the system and democracy in the country as it guaranteed solidarity and prosperity of the country. They also agreed to provide every possible facilities to the IDPs and there was agreement that the IDPs would be allowed to move anywhere in the country but they would be persuaded to stay in close proximity of their own areas.

Sindh chief minister told the prime minister that his province had already received more than one hundred thousand IDPs who had scattered in different cities of Sindh. The provincial government had been looking after them well despite its limited resources, he said. It has been officially stated that on behalf of the Sindh government, Sindh chief minister presented a cheque for Rs50 million to the prime minister for the IDPs.

Meanwhile, the sources said that the Monday meeting would pave the way to bigger cooperation between the PML-N and PPP in political arena as Syed Qaim Ali Shah would submit report what transpired in the meeting with the prime minister to his party leadership in a couple of days. The PML-N has planned to initiate consultations with the political parties which are not siding with the politics of agitation. The meeting between the prime minister and Sindh chief minister is part of such contacts, the sources added.

The sources reminded that formal consultations between the prime minister and leader of the opposition for developing consensus on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the country have been pending since more than one year. Syed Khursheed Shah also wrote a formal letter for this purpose last month. The two sides have agreed to have consultation shortly on the subject during the Monday meeting, the sources said.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also held meetings with Chief of Army Chief (COAS) General Raheel Sharif in Rawalpindi and presented a cheque for Rs5o million for the IDPs.Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah also met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and presented him a cheque for Rs50 million for the displaced populace.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah also accompanied the Sindh chief minister in meeting with KP chief minister.During the meeting with COAS, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah pledged his complete cooperation to the armed forces in the ongoing operation against terrorists.

While talking to the newsmen after a meeting with KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that the Sindh government was determined to extending all possible help to the IDPs. "We have presented cheques of Rs50 million each separately to the prime minister, army chief and KP chief minister," he noted.

To a question, Sindh chief minister denied imposing ban on entry of IDPs in Sindh saying that only checkposts were there at the entry points to Sindh so that no terrorist could enter the province. "There is a wrong impression that the IDPs were not allowed to enter Sindh," he added.

Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah told the newsmen that besides presenting the cheques to the army chief, KP chief minister and the prime minister of Rs50 million, PPP was also opening accounts for donations regarding IDPs.

He said a team of doctors from Sindh would also assist the federal government and KP government for the healthcare of the affected population.KP chief minister Khattak thanked the Sindh government and said the provincial government would provide IDPs with all possible assistance.He said that majority of the IDPs either took refuge in homes of their relatives or prefer to hire house on rent.

End.