Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has advised Interior Minister Rehman Malik not to waste time in London and have a meeting with Dr Tahirul Qadri over the issue of January 14 long march on Islamabad, a private television reported on Wednesday.

Citing sources, the TV channel said that during their meeting in London on Tuesday, Malik was advised by the MQM chief to leave for Lahore to have a meeting with the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran chairman, when the former requested the latter to reconsider his party’s decision as regards participation in Qadri’s long march.Malik's visit to MQM's international secretariat came in the wake of the party’s announcement to take part in January 14 long march on Islamabad.

Altaf Hussain had sought support from all and sundry, especially the army and the judiciary, for the call of 'change', given by the Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran chief. According to a press release, the MQM chief asked Malik to send a high-powered PPP delegation to Qadri to express its reservations over his long march. “This delegation should directly ask him (Qadri) about what reforms he wanted in the country,” Altaf was quoted as having said to the interior minister. During the meeting, Malik conveyed a message from President Zardari to the MQM chief.