Sindh coalition: PML-Q poised to join Sindh cabinet
Three officials may be appointed into the government.
KARACHI:
After acquiring 14 ministries in the federal cabinet, the Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) may get a share in the Sindh cabinet as well.
If this happens, the Opposition will shrink further in the Sindh Assembly. Officials told The Express Tribune that two of the party’s members are likely to be appointed as advisers and another as a minister in the next phase.
They said that Ghous Bux Mahar’s son, Shaharyar Mahar, is likely to be appointed a provincial minister, while the portfolio of adviser could be given to a member of the Sheerazi family from Thatta.
President Asif Ali Zardari spoke to Sindh’s MPAs on Tuesday, briefing them at President House in Islamabad. “There is no permanent enemy in politics,” he said, explaining the deal between both parties, “We have to ‘shun’ our differences with the PML-Q, who are now our main coalition partners.”
Officials said that according to the deal between the two parties, another federal ministry would be given to the PML-Q. Former Balochistan chief minister Jam Yousuf is said to be a candidate for the minister.
A senior PML-Q leader, who preferred to remain unnamed, confirmed reports of possible sharing in the Sindh government. “We demanded four ministries, but they are willing to appoint a minister and two advisers.”
He explained PML-Q General Secretary Mushahid Hussain’s recent absence from the limelight. “Mushahid Hussain has been part of deal,” he said. “He held the meeting with the president for about three hours. But he is currently out of the country.” He said that the president had offered to give Mushahid Hussain Hussain Haroon’s place as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, but he refused it.
He also turned down an offer to become the prime minister’s foreign affairs adviser, saying that, ‘I want to be a senator and want to contest the coming elections for the Senate”. However, he agreed to become the foreign affairs adviser once he has become a senator.
There were a total of 12 PML-Q members elected to the Sindh Assembly, of which four crossed the floor to join the Pakistan Peoples Party. The remaining eight members divided into two groups - four are with the Like-minded group and four are with the league led by the Chaudhry brothers.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2011.
After acquiring 14 ministries in the federal cabinet, the Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) may get a share in the Sindh cabinet as well.
If this happens, the Opposition will shrink further in the Sindh Assembly. Officials told The Express Tribune that two of the party’s members are likely to be appointed as advisers and another as a minister in the next phase.
They said that Ghous Bux Mahar’s son, Shaharyar Mahar, is likely to be appointed a provincial minister, while the portfolio of adviser could be given to a member of the Sheerazi family from Thatta.
President Asif Ali Zardari spoke to Sindh’s MPAs on Tuesday, briefing them at President House in Islamabad. “There is no permanent enemy in politics,” he said, explaining the deal between both parties, “We have to ‘shun’ our differences with the PML-Q, who are now our main coalition partners.”
Officials said that according to the deal between the two parties, another federal ministry would be given to the PML-Q. Former Balochistan chief minister Jam Yousuf is said to be a candidate for the minister.
A senior PML-Q leader, who preferred to remain unnamed, confirmed reports of possible sharing in the Sindh government. “We demanded four ministries, but they are willing to appoint a minister and two advisers.”
He explained PML-Q General Secretary Mushahid Hussain’s recent absence from the limelight. “Mushahid Hussain has been part of deal,” he said. “He held the meeting with the president for about three hours. But he is currently out of the country.” He said that the president had offered to give Mushahid Hussain Hussain Haroon’s place as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, but he refused it.
He also turned down an offer to become the prime minister’s foreign affairs adviser, saying that, ‘I want to be a senator and want to contest the coming elections for the Senate”. However, he agreed to become the foreign affairs adviser once he has become a senator.
There were a total of 12 PML-Q members elected to the Sindh Assembly, of which four crossed the floor to join the Pakistan Peoples Party. The remaining eight members divided into two groups - four are with the Like-minded group and four are with the league led by the Chaudhry brothers.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2011.