Sources in the party told The Express Tribune that the PPP and PML-Q had struck a deal under which all politically motivated cases lodged by the government against PML-Q leaders were to be withdrawn. However, nothing has been done in this regard so far.
“Under the deal, not only are cases to be withdrawn, but the government has to give us a share in jobs and appoint bureaucrats and town officials in our contingencies with our consent,” a provincial leader of the party said while requesting anonymity.
He further said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which has 25 seats in the National Assembly, was given 14 ministries in the Sindh government. While on the other hand, he added, the PML-Q, which has around 50 seats in the NA, has only been given four ministries in the Sindh cabinet.
“Our ministers have no power, privilege or even protocol,” he said, adding that their attempts to meet with the Sindh chief minister have been in vain.
“One of our colleagues has been given the portfolio of the tourism ministry, but he has no official vehicle because a PPP minister has taken over his department’s jeep,” the source alleged.
Another leader of the party told The Express Tribune that the secretary of his department was ‘not obliging him’. Official sources said that the ministry of sports was given to Haleem Adil Shaikh, but the secretary of his department is on a five-month leave and has retained charge of his department. Despite many requests, they added, the government has not appointed another secretary.
“We have serious reservations regarding the politically motivated cases lodged against the local leadership of our party. Officials of agencies including the FIA and the police are still perusing their activities by threatening them (the leaders) of dire consequences,” they said, adding,
“The PPP government and its leaders should keep in mind that the incumbent government continues to be in power because of our coalition.”
“It seems as though the leaders of PPP have not accepted an alliance with PML-Q and only President Zardari seems serious about continuing the coalition with us,” said Shaikh.
He further said that during the recent floods in lower Sindh, district coordination officers stopped giving relief goods to them, claiming that “the PPP ministers have stopped us from distributing goods in your constituencies”.
Furthermore, PML-Q leader and federal minister for privatization Ghaus Bux Mahar said: “The president had told us that our ministers will have full authority, but since May, they have no power in Sindh.”
He added that after Eid they would meet the president again to brief him about the grievances of their leaders in Sindh before making any decision.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2011.
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