Pakistan's new balance of power

[mujahideen]

Bhutto's party woos Pakistan Islamists

By Zeeshan Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani opposition parties that inflicted a big defeat on President Pervez Musharraf's allies in last week's election are trying to woo Islamists to build a coalition that could threaten the rule of the U.S. ally.

Asif Ali Zardari, widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and leader of her party, on Thursday night met Fazl-ur-Rehman, a hardline Islamic cleric and discussed the possibility of forming a "government of national consensus".

Representatives of both leaders were due to meet again on Friday evening for more discussions.

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won most seats in the Feb. 18 election, but not enough to rule alone. The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, came second.

Zardari has called for a coalition government made up of all parties except Musharraf's main ally, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), which suffered a humiliating defeat in the polls.

"We support the idea of a government of national consensus because it is in the interest of the country and nation," Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, a close aide to Rehman, told Reuters.

"No party can address the problems of the country alone," said Haideri, who is leading his side in the talks with the PPP.

Voters rejected the Islamist parties that emerged as a major bloc after the last election in 2002.

The PPP is already in talks with Sharif's party on the formation of a coalition.

The PPP is seen as the most liberal and Western-leaning Pakistani party and analysts say it has nothing in common with the Islamist groups, some of which sympathise with the Taliban, except opposition to the unpopular Musharraf.

Haideri said his party, which has seven seats in the National Assembly, would vote to rescind Musharraf's power to dismiss the government and for the abolition of a National Security Council formed by Musharraf to oversee the affairs of the government.

Important U.S. ally Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup when he was army chief.

 

[mujahideen]

Doubts linger over Pakistan's new political dawn

By Robert Birsel

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The two historically rival parties that won Pakistan's general election have vowed to work together to restore democracy, but some analysts doubt they will stick together for long.

The opposition trounced the unpopular President Pervez Musharraf's party in the Feb. 18 parliamentary elections, with assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's party winning the most seats, but not enough to rule on its own.

The party of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, came second.

Bhutto and Sharif were bitter rivals in the 1990s when they alternated as prime minister. Both were accused of corruption and served two terms over a tumultuous period that ended when then army chief Musharraf ousted Sharif in a 1999 coup.

But Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), are vowing to work together to rid politics of the old military-bureaucratic establishment and set up true constitutional democracy.

It would be the first time in Pakistan's history that the two main parties have come together.

"This is the first time they are both trying to diminish the significance and importance of the establishment, clearly the military, and to that extent they want to diminish the powers of the president," said newspaper editor Najam Sethi.

"So there's consensus on that, but as soon as that is resolved, how to deal with Musharraf, I think they will revert back to wanting to hog the show and this whole business of national reconciliation will be taken over by party politics."

While both Sharif and Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, who has been leading her party since her assassination on Dec. 27, have stressed ridding politics of the establishment, they differ on Musharraf's fate.

Sharif has called for Musharraf to go, but Zardari has been less explicit, saying the new parliament should decide if it can work with him.

It is also not clear if Sharif's party will take cabinet posts in a PPP-led government or merely support it from outside while running the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan's richest province and home to half its 160 million people.


"NOT JUST 'GO MUSHARRAF GO'"

Whatever happens with the government, some analysts say the two parties have both suffered at the hands of the establishment and have learnt from that.

They are now determined to stick together to implement a Charter of Democracy that Bhutto and Sharif agreed to in 2006 which sets out constitutional amendments and other reforms aimed at enshrining democracy, said political analyst Nasim Zehra.

"They are getting together on what I would call Project Democracy," Zehra said. "They are keen to implement these agreements and that is reason enough to keep them together."

"It's not just about battling an individual, it's not just 'go Musharraf go'," she said, a reference to chants at demonstrations calling for the president's ouster. With the economy facing myriad problems, the new government is unlikely to have much of a honeymoon and that might be why Sharif declines to be part of it, analysts say.

Annual inflation at its highest in over a decade, a hefty trade deficit, pressure from high international oil and food prices, and domestic energy shortages are weighing on the economy.

"It's not going to be a piece of cake," said Umbreen Javaid, head of the politics department at Punjab University.

"Any government is going to get a bad name because things are very bad -- economically, the energy crisis -- and it's not going to be resolved in days, it's going to take years."

The longevity of the alliance depends on how long the leaders put the country before party interests, she said.

"Because they are the two main political parties, there's going to be a power struggle, but not immediately. I don't see that," said Javaid.

As well as economic problems, the new government will have to handle relations with the United States, which is keen to see Pakistan focus on tackling militancy even though the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism is deeply unpopular in Pakistan. Sethi said Sharif was already looking ahead to the next election. "He's betting that the PPP is left to cope with the difficulties of the transition and he can sit back in Punjab and let the federal government take the rap," Sethi said.

"He thinks that in a new election he will have a much better chance of capturing Islamabad."

But Zardari is dismissing the sceptics.

"It will last longer than anyone can imagine," he told Reuters on Wednesday when asked about his alliance with Sharif.

(Additional reporting by Zeeshan Haider)

 

[mujahideen]

Power Construct and Leadership Demands

One, the balance of power in Pakistan's power construct has greatly shifted towards elements that constitute Constitutional democracy. The elements include political legitimacy, popular vote, independent judiciary, constitutionally granted public and state authority, elected offices and independent media. The March 9 2007 lawyers and citizens resistance marked the beginning of this shift, the results of the February 18 election exhibited the shift and the February elected parties alliance reinforced this shift. A corollary of this shift has also been the weakening of the Extra-Constitutional forces functioning outside of the parameters of the original Constitutions.

Two, as a consequence of this shift balance of power three elements operating supra-Constitutionally or with the help of supra Constitutional authorities have either been considerably weakened or have retracted from the extra Constitutional spaces they occupied. First the army which has institutionally begun to retrace its steps towards its constitutional role; second the former general now Parvez Musharraf's political authority and his time as the all authoritative supra-constitutional figure is up and third PML-Q created and patronized by general Parvez Musharraf and the agencies has been trounced at the polls. Also reportedly PML-Q's elected members of the Senate, national and provincial assemblies are busy forming forward blocs.

Three the president's vastly diminished or vanished political authority has incapacitated him administratively to take any step to challenge the authority of the elected parliament. With the legitimate political ascendance of the elected parliamentary forces the president cannot use the Constitutional powers he acquired since 1999 through Ordinances and Constitutional amendments. With the army's obvious inclination to steer clear of politics retired general Musharraf, holding a controversial presidential position, has no cards with which to begin another round of power contest between the popularly elected parliamentary forces and the Vice-regal forces.

Four the joint movement of Pakistan's major parliamentary forces towards Constitutional democracy greatly reduces the ability of agencies and the GHQ to puppeteer a new anti-democracy play. At this juncture of Pakistan's political history as genuine political forces work together according to consensus-based 'rules of the game' no IJI or MMA can be created. With PPP having wisely given a stake to all elected forces in a new setup and with PML-N determined to only play the democratic game, there are no politicians willing to play the B team for the presidency. Even the 93 independent parliamentarians voted into the national and provincial assemblies are looking towards the winning parties not the presidency.

Five the emergence of lawyers-led organized and determined citizens' groups which seek accountable exercise of State and government power and demanding restoration of the pre-November 3 judiciary is significant. It has contributed to the creation of an effective democratic deterrence against the unhindered functioning of supra Constitutional forces within Pakistan's political space. The media, popular political forces and overseas Pakistanis have been a key element in this uniquely evolving Pakistani democratic deterrence. This democratic deterrence has worked to prevent the widespread rigging planned for the Election Day, as even conceded by Pakistan's Attorney-general in his telephone conversation. It was this democratic deterrence that also forced general Musharraf to roll back whatever plans he had made in November for imposition of a longer term emergency, postponement of elections and squashing media freedom. Washington had no choice but to acknowledge the emergence of this democratic deterrence against extra Constitutional forces and also seek an early end to emergency.

Six Pakistan's power parliamentary forces appear relatively more capable of resisting external pressure keen to influence Pakistan's political future and the power scene. For example Washington's advice to PPP to keep the "Islamist" Nawaz Sharif out of a future ruling coalition and to the elected parliamentarians on not insisting upon the restoration of the pre-November 3 judiciary, was not adhered to. Similarly Washington's advise that the elected parties work with president Musharraf and US president's phone call of support to president Musharraf will not greatly alter the way various political leaders view president Musharraf.

Seven, the Musharraf era is over yet his political future and exit scenario is dependant on his personal decision, on the parliament's decisions and the street factor. Were the president not honor his own promise of respecting the public's verdict on his political future or the thumping failure of his eight year long political experiment and not resign then the politicians have the option to use their parliamentary strength to weaken him. As the PPP leader Amin Faheem has already stated that if the president were to get a vote of confidence from the new assembly his party can work with him. However the likelihood of a vote of confidence seems very unlikely. Some political forces within and outside of the parliament will continue to demand Musharraf's exit. His moral authority to stay on ended the day the people defeated his political party.

Eight the struggle for the restoration of the pre-November 3 judiciary has greatly contributed to strengthening the struggle for rule of law in Pakistan. Whatever the public articulation of the PPP there is clear agreement between the PPP and the PML-N that restoration of the judiciary is a priority item for the two. However with various opinions on how the restoration can Constitutionally take place an immediate Task Force on Restoration of the Judiciary will have to be immediately set up to give specific recommendations on what is the quickest and the most effective way forward on this. While the lawyers' movement and the broader street strength gathered on the restoration matter will continue to exercise pressure on the parliamentarians, the elected political leadership cannot take any outside of a wisely guided consensus position evolved by a Task Force. Setting deadlines for restoration is an unwise approach but keeping the politicians on their toes through political pressure is needed.

These factors make for a clear and demanding path to a genuinely democratic Pakistan. Key issues including the president's future and the restoration of the judges need to be resolved. Instant resolutions may not be available. Patience without detouring from the Constitutional path is essential.

Pakistan is transiting from a khaki-led quasi-democracy towards a genuine Constitutional democracy. Power realignments are taking place and we stand at the edge of a new democratic dawn. The democratic forces are ascendant but not quite rooted yet. The democratic process has begun but the return of Constitutional authority to the elected parliament has yet to begin.

This is a hopeful yet precarious period. The challenge for Pakistan's parliamentary forces is to convert this shift in Pakistan's power construct into permanent ascendancy of the parliament in accordance with Pakistan's 1973 Constitution. It is time for responsible and thoughtful action not reactive behavior. The objective of the ascendancy of the parliament, of an independent judiciary and the presence of a consensus president are largely shared by the overwhelming majority of the elected forces. All elected political leadership and energy must be geared towards achieving these objectives remaining within the discipline of the Constitutional parameters and the confines of the parliament. All eyes are on the two key parties the PPP and the PML-N and also on important regional parties including the ANP and the MQM. Only jointly can they successfully respond to the many challenges- economic, political, internal security, distributive justice and foreign policy- that confront Pakistan.

Pakistan News Service - PakTribune

 

[mujahideen]

Playing with people’s sentiments on judges’ issue inappropriate: Shujaat

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League (Q) has named Pervaiz Elahi and Hamid Nasir Chattha the party’s parliamentary leaders at National Assembly and Punjab Assembly respectively. A meeting of PML-Q central executive committee held at Muslim League House here on Saturday decided the matter. Speaking on the occasion Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said it is inappropriate to play with sentiments of the people on the issue of restoration of the Judges. The meeting discussed the election results, the party’s role as parliamentary opposition and the future strategy, he added. The party’s 40 elected members and senior leaders attended the meeting.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

PML-N to show two-third majority in Punjab Assembly: Shahbaz

LAHORE: President Pakistan Muslim League (N) Shahbaz Sharif has said his party along with People’s Party would prove two-third majority in Punjab Assembly in next few days. Talking to Geo News correspondent Irfan Nazeer, Shahbaz Sharif said PML-N would form coalition governments in centre and Punjab with People’s Party for which a procedure has been decided with mutual consent. “The voters have given us mandate for restoration of judiciary and it would be the foremost priority after the parliament goes to session,” he further said. Shahbaz thanked Almighty Allah for his acquittal from Sabzazar case. He said he has sympathy with the families of deceased. Shahbaz Sharif said he was not absconding in the case and had presented himself before the court. According to party sources, after acquittal of the PML-N president in Sabzazar case there is no hurdle in his election in a bye-election.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Altaf says Nawaz broke CoD

HYDERABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain said Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif broke the Charter of Democracy (CoD) by supporting the restoration of the deposed judges; he is lying and it is his moral duty to burn out the CoD in front of people. Addressing a public gathering of women under MQM banner, Altaf Hussain said Nawaz Sharif should look at himself instead of expressing reservations over MQM character, adding Sharif signed CoD with Benazir Bhutto, which mentioned that recommendations for the appointment of judges of higher judiciary would be prepared through a commission headed by a chief justice, who never took oath under PCO. ‘CoD was signed on May14, 2006 and Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry and his companion judges were sacked on November 3, 2007,’ he said adding, ‘Nawaz Sharif now breaking CoD by supporting the restoration of judges.’ He proposed to Asif Ali Zardari to be wary of Nawaz Sharif. He said his party would never undertake such an action that would lead to confrontation, adding that every step by MQM would be aimed at the prosperity of the province and the country. He maintained that his party would side with them only if they bring such judges who never took oath under PCO. Altaf Hussain said MQM never begged for the power and will very gladly sit on the opposition benches. He congratulated the people of Hyderabad for making Haq Parast candidates successful in the recent polls. Altaf said women have active role than more than that of men in the victory of MQM candidates in recent elections. MQM obtained above 25 million votes in Sindh, it means that Hyderabad is city of Altaf Hussain, adding the seats of his party increased, whereas the graph of other parties came down. Commenting on standpoint of Nawaz Sharif over the restoration of the deposed judges, MQM Chief said, being a public leader, Nawaz Sharif should refrain from making a fool of the nation.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

PML-Q facing problems in forming Balochistan govt

By Saleem Shahid

QUETTA, Feb 29: Pakistan Muslim League-Q which has emerged as the largest single party in the Balochistan assembly is facing problems in nominating the leader of its parliamentary party. The differences in the party have forced PML’s president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to intervene in the matter.

All other parties have elected their parliamentary leaders and are engaged in negotiations for forming the government in Balochistan.

According to PML-Q sources, Chaudhry Shujaat is expected to arrive here on Saturday to help the party find a consensus leader.

Four candidates are in the run for the post — former chief minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf, Yar Mohammad Rind, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel and Mir Mohammad Asim Kurd. Another strong candidate for the post, Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, has been appointed governor of the province.

A committee formed by the PML-Q for talks with other parties and independents in the province is facing problems in the absence of a designated parliamentary leader.

The sources, however, believe that Chaudhry Shujaat’s intervention may complicate the situation because some of the party’s elected members have said that they would not accept anyone imposed by the high command.

“Formation of a forward bloc in the party cannot be ruled out in this situation,” an MPA-elect told Dawn, adding that the PPP’s high command was already in contact with some of the PML-Q’s elected legislators.

Chaudhry Shujaat and PML-Q’s secretary-general Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed have already held a meeting with provincial president of JUI-F Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani and Maulana Abdul Wasay to discuss government formation in the province.

The sources said that JUI-F’s leadership had told them that they were in no position to make any commitment.

Maulana Wasay said that PML-Q should first elect its parliamentary leader.

Meanwhile, a group of eight independents led by Mohammad Aslam Bizenjo held a meeting with the parliamentary leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Mohammad Aslam Raisani. The group informed Mr Raisani about their stand on issues of Balochistan.

Independent MPA Agha Irfan Karim, it may be mentioned, has already joined the PPP, increasing the party’s strength in the assembly to eight.

The sources said that more independents had shown interest in joining the PPP. They said that Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel had also held a meeting with Mr Raisani along with Mir Asim Kurd on Thursday night.

“Our negotiations are under way with different parties, groups and independent members on government (formation) issue,” Mr Raisani told Dawn, adding that talks held between JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in the federal capital were positive and fruitful.

PML-Q facing problems in forming Balochistan govt -DAWN - Top Stories; March 01, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

PPP has full support for forming government in Balochistan’

QUETTA: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said that it has full support from more than the required members for forming the government in Balochistan and important decisions in this regard would be announced on Sunday.

This was told by parliamentary leader of the PPP for Balochistan Assembly Nawab Aslam Raeesani and deputy parliamentary leader Mohammad Sadiq Umrani during a news conference in Quetta.

Aslam Raeesani said that on the directives of Asif Zardari, MNAs Khurshid Shah and Aijaz Jakhrani would reach Quetta on Sunday after which final decisions regarding the formation of the government would be made.

‘PPP has full support for forming government in Balochistan’

 

[Neo]

Mukhtar, Qureshi, Gillani in run for premiership​

* Top slot likely to go to Punjab to avoid Sindh power concentration​

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is most likely to nominate its candidate for the slot of prime minister from the Punjab and top contenders for the position are Ahmad Mukhtar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Yousaf Raza Gillani.

Although Amin Fahim was pronounced the PPP’s parliamentary leader after the death of Benazir Bhutto, insiders said a consensus could not be built in the party on his candidature. “It seems he (Fahim) is out of the race,” an insider close to PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari told Daily times.

Top slot: The reason for the change of heart is that Zardari also belongs to Sindh. If Fahim is nominated for the slot of PM, the party’s top hierarchy would belong to only one province and Punjab will be neglected at a time when the party needs to be strengthened in the province.

But Zardari is not dropping any hints about the PPP’s candidate because he is assessing the political situation and analysing the ground realities. Following a disagreement in the party on Fahim’s candidature, Ahmad Mukhtar, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yousaf Raza Gillani have started lobbying for the top slot.

“All these three candidates are PPP loyalists and choosing one of them will be a strategic decision,” a PPP source privy to the latest development said. Qureshi and Gillani belong to southern Punjab where the party is already strong. But the leadership is of the view that the PPP needs to be strengthened in central Punjab. “This is why the name of Ahmad Mukhtar came up and he had a meeting with Zardari on Friday,” the source said, adding that his qualification for the top slot was that he had defeated PML-Quaid President Shujaat Hussain in the latter’s stronghold.

Qureshi is Cambridge educated and without any blot on his character. And like Fahim, he has also resisted pressure from different quarters to switch loyalty. Gillani is a former NA speaker and has suffered in jail for a long time. But like Qureshi, he also belongs to southern Punjab.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Independents not to back PML-Q in Balochistan

QUETTA: A majority of newly elected independent members of the Balochistan Assembly categorically announced on Saturday that they would not support the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) in its efforts to form the next government in Balochistan, as they held it responsible for the military operation in Balochistan and for the killing of former chief minister Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

A meeting of the newly elected independent members of the provincial assembly (MPAs), who have united on the platform of ‘Like-minded Independent Group’, was held on Saturday at the MPAs’ Hostel in Quetta.

The group’s parliamentary leader, Sardar Aslam Bizanjo told a press conference on Saturday evening that eight of the independent MPAs had collectively decided not to support the PML-Q in forming the next government in Balochistan as they held it responsible for the murder of former Balochistan governor and chief minister, late Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti. When asked about the possibilities of their collaboration with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in forming the political setup in Balochistan, Bizanjo said it was premature to say whether they would support the PPP. He said the candidates had agreed that they would support the party which would promise to ‘completely end’ the ongoing military operation in Balochistan, release all the political leaders, including former chief minister and the president of Balochistan National Party, Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

In its meeting, the independent group had decided to form a three-member committee to hold talks with various parties, except the PML-Q, on the matter of government formation, he said. The independent MPAs, who accompanied Bizanjo in the press conference, included Mir Bakhtiar Khan Domki, Sardar Rusum Khan Jamali, Mir Shah Nawaz Marri, Mir Qambar Gichki, Mir Abdul Rehman Mengal, Captain Abdul Khaliq Achakzai and Zahoor Hussain Khosa. The independent MPAs claimed that they also enjoyed the support of another independent candidate whose name they could not disclose at this point.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Mohsin Latif may be PML-N candidate for Punjab CM

* Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Dost Muhammad Khosa, Chaudhry Ghafoor Ahmed also being considered

By Azaz Syed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA-elect Mohsin Latif is the leading PML-N candidate for the post of Punjab chief minister until Shahbaz Sharif can contest the by-polls, PML-N sources told Daily Times on Saturday.

“Three other contenders are also in the running, but Latif is likely to be nominated by the PML-N leadership,” a senior PML-N leader said on condition of anonymity. The sources said Latif was Begum Kulsoom Nawaz’s nephew.

The PML-N has emerged as the single largest party in Punjab following the February 18 elections, but cannot form the government independently. Although the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have agreed to support each other, it is unlikely that the PPP would support the PML-N in Punjab if the latter does not share power in the Centre.

The PML-N won 104 of 371 Punjab Assembly seats. Twenty-five independent MPAs-elect have already joined it. The PML-N is also expected to get 29 reserved seats for women and two minorities’ seats. In total, the PML-N will have 160 members in the Punjab Assembly.

The party expects a large number of independently elected candidates to join the PML-N. The Central Executive Committee of the PML-N on February 21 had elected party leaders Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shahbaz Sharif as parliamentary leaders in the National and Punjab Assembly.

PML-N sources had told Daily Times on Thursday that Nawaz could contest from the NA-123 constituency, Lahore-VI — a seat being vacated by PML-N leader Javed Hashmi— while Shahbaz Sharif could be a candidate from PP-124, Sialkot-IV — a seat likely to be vacated by Rana Abdul Sattar

Other candidates: Other PML-N candidates being considered for the PML-N candidacy are Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Dost Muhammad Khosa and Chaudhry Ghafoor Ahmed. Iqbal is the son of the late Rana Phool, who was a close confidant of the Sharif brothers. Khosa is the son of PML-N Punjab president Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, and Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor had worked with the late Muhammad Sharif, Nawaz Sharif’s father.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

JUI-F can become part of national consensus govt’

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Saturday that his party was in a position to become a part of a national consensus government. He said this while talking to the media at Zardari House after meeting Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. He said the process of consultation between the JUI-F and the PPP was underway and both parties had reached a consensus on a number of issues. The JUI-F leader said that while there were some difficulties in the way of formation of a national consensus government, no major differences existed. He urged all political parties to show solidarity to steer the country out of crises. Earlier, Zardari and Rehman discussed issues related to formation of the national consensus government. This was the second meeting between the two leaders in a week. The JUI-F is likely to join the next government at the Centre, as the PPP has already accepted 12 of the 16 conditions it had put forward. Sources privy to the negotiations have told Daily Times that an agreement on the remaining four points would likely be reached during an upcoming meeting between the PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. According to the sources, Zardari had expressed his willingness to include the JUI-F in the next government in an earlier meeting with Fazl. They said the JUI-F leader had required that 16 conditions be fulfilled before the JUI-F could become part of the future set up.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Chattha, Zardari discuss coalition

* Chattha to lead PML-Q in Punjab
* Efforts on to keep PML-N out unless it shares power with PPP in Centre

By Muhammad Bilal

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) initiated formal contacts on Saturday when Hamid Nasir Chattha met PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari shortly after his appointment as PML-Q’s parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly.

According to sources privy to the meeting, it lasted for over two hours. They said PPP Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, one of the contenders for the premiership slot, was also present.

They said there was a strong possibility that this meeting would lead to a thaw in relations between the two parties and pave the way for a government of national consensus. “The PPP is keeping all its options open. However, it is difficult to say at this time whether it will take the PML-Q on board,” the sources added.

Possible coalition: Chattha had earlier met Zardari after the February 18 elections, but Saturday’s meeting was significant in view of a possible coalition government of the PPP, the PML-Q, the PML-F, the JUI-F and some independents. “This combination can easily yield a simple majority in the Punjab Assembly to form a government headed by Hamid Nasir Chattha,” the sources said. “The nomination of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as PML-Q parliamentary leader in the National Assembly is probably part of this plan.” Chattha had worked with the PPP in the past as a coalition partner.

Following Chattha’s meeting with Zardari, Saudi Arabia Ambassador in Pakistan Ali Awad Al-Asseri also met the PPP co-chairman. “This is an equally significant meeting as the Saudis are interested in Pakistan’s politics, particularly in the future setup,” the sources said.

PML-N push: The PML-N is also working to muster the support of like-minded MPAs-elect, but it is unlikely that the PPP would agree to withdraw from forming a government in the Punjab if the PML-N does not share power with it in the Centre.

The PPP has 80 general seats in the Punjab Assembly to PML-Q’s 68 and PML-F’s three. These parties will also be allocated seats reserved for women and minorities on the basis of their representation in the House. The PPP is expected to get 18 female seats and two minority seats. Similarly, the PML-Q is expected to get 15 female seats and one minority seat. This would give the PML-Q and the PPP a combined total of 184 seats. A coalition with the PML-F would give the possible coalition 187 seats. A total of 186 members are required to form government in the Punjab.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Decision of sitting in opposition firm, final: Shujaat

KARACHI: President Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that his party decision regarding sitting in opposition was firm and final. He stated this while addressing while talking to newsmen at the residence former Prime Minister and NPP chief Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi after a meeting. “ We have decided to sit on opposition benches and we will play positive role,” he remarked.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Makhdoom family likely to get Sindh CM seat

KARACHI: The Makhdoom family may get the seat of chief minister of Sindh if Makhdoom Amin Fahim is not made the next prime minister, sources close to the family told Daily Times on Saturday. But PPP leader Sajjad Bukhari said Fahim still topped the list of candidates for prime minister. He said some party members thought the prime minister should be from Punjab where the party is not as strong. irfan ali

Courtesy Daily Times