QWP poised to become PTI’s right hand in coalition

Insiders say ruling party may sacrifice a minister to accommodate new ally

PESHAWAR:

After signing an agreement to join the government, the Qaumi Watan Party is poised to become the strongest coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. It also stands to gain a ministry or two in the bargain.

With 10 seats in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, it is in a better position than Jamaat-e-Islami that has six. The right-wing party recently lost a seat in PK-93, Upper Dir when its MPA was disqualified for holding a fake degree. The JI also suffered another blow when the Election Commission of Pakistan refused to issue a notification on the by-elections for PK-95, Lower Dir where women voters were allegedly restrained from casting their ballots. A Peshawar High Court stay order on the notification for the constituency has yet to be lifted.

Feeling betrayed

Ties between PTI and JI have also deteriorated in recent times as the latter felt it was “betrayed” by the ruling party in the recent local government elections.

Read: Hand grenade lobbed at PTI leader’s house

The JI leadership publicly expressed its anger over PTI’s action which lost JI crucial seats. JI leader Dr Iqbal Khalil said the party’s trust in PTI cost the JI dearly.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has decided to reshuffle the provincial cabinet and sacrifice a PTI minister to accommodate a QWP member.

As things stand currently, Khattak can only accommodate one legislator from QWP in his 14-member cabinet. As per the agreement with QWP, PTI would offer two ministries and as many special assistant posts. Earlier, there were rumours the chief minister would strip the JI of a ministry since the party’s strength in the house had reduced from eight to six.

However, insiders said Khattak changed his mind as such a decision could have consequences. It was believed he chose not to stir the hornet’s nest to keep the coalition strong.

Those familiar with the matter believe an important portfolio held by a PTI minister will be sacrificed to accommodate a QWP member. However, these claims could not be confirmed as no PTI leader was available for comment despite several attempts.

A senior PTI leader, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune the party was no longer on friendly terms with JI, but could face a difficult time if the coalition partners parted ways. “Axing JI from the coalition may cause many problems for us,” he said.

Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.

As things stand, it seems Khattak is left with little choice but to make one of its ministers a sacrificial lamb. Senior leaders of the QWP and PTI confirmed the ruling party had decided to remove one minister and appoint him as a special assistant.

Read: More than 20 PML-N, PPP, members join PTI

Another advantage of bringing QWP into the fray is its good relations with the bureaucracy; something PTI does not enjoy. The latter’s anti-bureaucratic stance has proved a hurdle in several cases.

“The alliance with QWP will help us run government affairs in a better way as Aftab Sherpao enjoys friendly relations with the provincial bureaucracy,” a senior leader of PTI said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2015.