Govt formation: PMLN, PPP teams to meet again today to forge consensus

ISLAMABAD: The political coordination committees of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday held fifth round of talks for formation of government in the Centre but could not reach any decision.

However, they agreed to meet again today (Tuesday) for the sixth round. PPP’s continues refusal to become part of the cabinet remained the main reason to reach any agreement.

Earlier in the day, after holding the three-hour-long meeting, it was decided that second round of Monday talks between would be held on Monday night but it was deferred till today (Tuesday).

Though the draft of recommendations was finalised and both the parties decided to consult their respective leadership before meeting at night; however, the PPP committee did not come up for the meeting, and later it was decided to hold talks on Tuesday.

Sources said the PPP was of the view that when party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had made the commitment that the PPP would support the PMLN in election of prime minister, the party would fulfil the commitment without being a part of the cabinet.

According to sources, the PMLN and PPP committees had prepared a draft of recommendations regarding government formation. Today they would to convert the draft into a written agreement.

Talking to media on Monday night, former law minister and PMLN senior leader Senator Azam Tarar said talks were going on positively and meeting would be held on Tuesday.

Tarar said some things had already been decided regarding the PPP’s inclusion in the federal cabinet. Senator Ishaq Dar, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Azam Nazir Tarar and Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan attended the meeting from the PMLN while the PPP was represented by Syed Murad Ali Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Saeed Ghani, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Shuja Khan and Sardar Bahadur Khan Sehar.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQMP) held a meeting with a PMLN team where the two sides agreed to continue to remain touch for formation of government in the Centre.

The MQM delegation comprised of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Senior Convener Syed Mustafa Kamal and Dr Farooq Sattar, while Senator Ishaq Dar, Ayaz Sadiq and Malik Ahmad Khan represented the PMLN.

After the meeting, the MQMP spokesman said that they have sought support of PMLN in Parliament on three-point package of amendments in the Constitution.

“On top of our priorities is get constitutional protection to devolution of powers and resources at the grassroots level,” he said.

Meanwhile, the sources said that the MQMP with 17 seats in the National Assembly is set to add another four women’s reserve seats taking the tally to 21. It has also been learnt that so far no agreement has reached on share of MQMP in the federal government.

However, the MQMP leadership is interested in deputy speakership in the National Assembly and at least three ministries including the Port and Shipping, Housing and Works and Information.

In addition, the leading party in Karachi would also get chairmanship of some standing committees of the House. The MQM spokesman said that during the meeting, the two sides discussed matters particularly the problems being faced by Sindh population both in rural and urban areas.

Meanwhile, the PMLN and PPP leaderships in consultation with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) finalised details for formation of government in Balochistan province. These three parties have a decisive majority in the Balochistan Assembly.

The sources said that it had also been finalised the Balochistan chief minister would be from the PPP. However, unlike in the past, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, having 10 seats in the province, has already announced it will become part of Balochistan government. In the meantime, the PPP leadership has called all Balochistan Assembly members belonging to the party in Islamabad. After meeting with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, three independent members Liaquat Lehri, Asfand Yar Kakar and Maulvi Noorullah have also joined PPP in Balochistan Assembly.