Islamabad: Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain today agreed to cooperate for the integrity of the country and maintaining law and order in the Sindh province.

This was decided during a telephone conversation between Zardari and the London-based Hussain. The two leaders described the recent violence in Karachi "highly regrettable" and exchanged views about relations between their parties, said a release issued by the MQM.

"Asif Zardari and Altaf Hussain also agreed to further strengthen the reconciliation process between the two parties," the release said.

The two leaders vowed that the MQM and PPP will "jointly foil every conspiracy" and joint committees will be set up to take measures in this regard.

The leaders also discussed the political situation and agreed to carry out a "joint struggle" for the stability and development of Pakistan.

Senior PPP leader Rehman Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister for Interior Affairs, has played a key role in building bridges between the two parties after talks between them on the issue of MQM joining the provincial government in Sindh ran into rough weather over the allocation of ministries.

However, the PML(N) - the PPP's main ally in the coalition government at the centre - has opposed moves to include the MQM in the federal government.

Source : PTI