KARACHI, June 25: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf met Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi (Pir Pagara) at the Kingri House on Monday and thanked him for extending support in his election as the new premier.

The prime minister sought Pir Pagara’s help in meeting the challenges of law and order and power crisis.

The PML-F chief said that his party would not leave the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) alone in difficult times.

He said that besides his party’s political alliance with the PPP, he had friendship with President Asif Ali Zardari and, therefore, the reconciliatory process would go on.

The prime minister spoke to the media after the meeting and said that all state institutions must be strengthened but they should remain within their respective parameters. “Parliament is the mother of all state institutions,” he remarked, adding that the PPP wanted to take along all allies to serve the masses.

He also acknowledged PML-F’s role in his election and said that he had come to the Kingri House to express his gratitude on behalf of his party.

Meanwhile, the prime minister also visited the residence of the late PPP lawmaker, Fauzia Wahab, to offer his condolences.

He told the bereaved family that she was equally popular among all parliamentarians regardless of their party affiliation.

National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and ministers Qamar Zaman Kaira, Manzoor Wattoo, Naveed Qamar, Khurshid Shah and Nazar Muhammad Gondal were also present.