Spelling further trouble for Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s ruling PPP and the MQM, former ally of the embattled president, have decided to set aside their past rivalry, paving the way for the latter’s possible inclusion in the coalition federal government.

The reconciliation followed a visit to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s headquarters here late last night by Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

“We have forgiven each other and also pardoned our enemies. We will not take our revenge on the people. . . we will avenge ourselves by changing the system,” he said.

Zardari and Altaf Hussain, the Lonon-based MQM chief, vowed to begin a “new journey” for the sake of Pakistan after “pardoning” each other for the bitterness of the past.

The MQM, which largely draws its support from migrants from undivided India, and the PPP have been rivals for long in the southern Sindh province, particularly in urban centres like Karachi and Hyderabad.

He MQM was a part of the previous coalition government that was seen as pro-Musharraf, though its MPs supported the PPP when Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani sought a vote of confidence in parliament.

Hussain, in a telephonic address from London, said: “Today we have started a new journey. We have forgiven PPP and they have pardoned us. We will work jointly to eliminate the urban-rural divide and for the rights of oppressed people to make Sindh prosperous.”

The patching up with the PPP could lead to the MQM’s inclusion in Gillani’s coalition government as well as the provincial government to be formed in Sindh by the PPP.

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