Re-allocation of ministries: PML-Q ministers unhappy over change in portfolios

Shaharyar Mahar threatens to even leave the party.

KARACHI: The Sindh government notified on Friday changes in the portfolios of the ministers belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League, but the decision incurred the ire of the leaders of the coalition partner.

According to the notification issued on Friday, the department of sports has been taken back from PML-Q leader Haleem Adil Shaikh and re-allotted to Dr Muhammad Ali Shah of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Similarly, the portfolio of environment ministry was taken back from Shaharyar Mahar of the PML-Q, and has now been allotted to the MQM’s Shaikh Muhammad Afzal.

To appease the coalition partners and to accommodate their nominees, the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government also bifurcated ministries to carve up more departments. The recently created department of relief and rehabilitation was bifurcated. The incumbent minister of the department, Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra, has been given the rehabilitation ministry while the portfolio of the relief department has been handed over to Haleem Adil Shaikh.

The environment and alternate energy ministry has also been divided into two departments. After taking back environment from Shaharyar Mahar, the government decided to give him the portfolio of alternate energy.

The sports, environment and alternate energy departments were earlier with MQM ministers, but after the MQM developed differences with the PPP and left the coalition, these departments were re-allotted to PML-Q ministers. But after coming back to the PPP’s fold, the MQM demanded back these very ministries.

However, Friday’s notification has left PML-Q leaders unhappy and they have declared they would not accept the decision.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Shaharyar Mahar said, “No one has consulted us before allotting new departments to us. We can not accept this and will lodge a protest with our leadership.”

He complained that his party’s ministers had no powers and the PPP has not fulfilled its commitment. “We will talk to Chaudhry Shujaat. If he does not listen to us we can even consider parting ways with the PML-Q,” he threatened.

Another leader of the PML-Q, Haleem Adil Shaikh, said that their voters have high hopes, which cannot be fulfilled through the relief ministry. “Though the departments have been allotted to us, we have no authority. None of the officials listen to us to implement our orders,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2011.