Body formed to mull PPP move to join cabinets: Kundi

LAHORE:

A committee has been formed to discuss whether or not the PPP will join the federal and Punjab cabinets, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who belongs to the party, said on Sunday.

However, Kundi, accompanied by his Punjab counterpart and fellow party leader Sardar Saleem Haider, told the media in Lahore that the final decision in this connection would be made by the PPP's Central Executive Committee.

Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his interaction with a PPP delegation, again extended an invitation to the party to join the federal government. However, the delegation told the premier that the final decision in this connection would be made by PPP co-chairperson, President Asif Ali Zardari, and his son, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

The premier’s invitation came a day after Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, who belongs to the PPP, said his party might join the PML-N’s Punjab government.

Gilani, who was talking to reporters at his residence, said his party leadership could consider joining the cabinet of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz if provided with “proper space” in the province.

The PPP, the third-largest party in the National Assembly, supported the PML-N to form a government in the Centre in the wake of the February 8 general elections but chose not to become part of the cabinet of PM Shehbaz.

The party currently holds constitutional positions including the president, Senate chairman, NA deputy speaker, as well as governors in Punjab and K-P provinces.

Last month, there were reports that the PML-N and PPP were close to finalising a power-sharing deal and Bilawal was likely to return as the country’s foreign minister.

However, PPP sources dismissed these reports, saying that the party would not join the federal cabinet before the presentation of the budget in parliament or even after it.

During his media interaction in Lahore, the K-P governor stressed the need for the government and political parties to work together in the face of the plethora of crises confronting the country.

“Pakistan is passing through a difficult time. The government and political parties should play their role to tackle it ... [They should] work beyond their political interests,” he added.

He credited the PPP for the 18th and 19th constitutional amendments.

Kundi emphasised there should be no clash between state institutions and all of them should work within their respective parameters.

He pointed out that proper forums were available for those who had objections over the election results.

The K-P governor said those who were involved in last year’s violence on May 9 should be brought to justice.