An anticipated reshuffle in the federal cabinet has triggered bickering within political parties as well as the ruling coalition, with dozens of ‘public representatives’ eyeing a hefty share of the pie.
From the top slot of premiership to posts of junior ministers, lawmakers and party chiefs are lobbying to secure maximum gains from this expected overhaul.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) —which claims to be the second largest party in the Pakistan Peoples Party-led ruling coalition — is at the forefront among the aspirants of key cabinet slots.
Its leadership is lobbying for the top slot and many of its lawmakers are using pressure tactics to get a cabinet portfolio – either a new ministry or by replacing some of the incumbents among their party’s quota of ministries.
Within the PPP, many pressure groups and lobbyists are also backing their preferred candidates in behind-the-scene traditional drawing room politics.
Other partners in the ruling alliance, the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), the Awami National Party (ANP) and members from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), are also said to be not content with their respective shares in the power.
Qamar Zaman Qaira and Nazar Gondal are once again being tipped as the hot favourites, along with Nadeem Afzal Chan, within the PPP in the event of a reshuffle.
Sources in the PPP said that after recent developments within the party, former law minister Babar Awan and ex-Senate chairman Farooq H Naik are likely to be further cornered in the coming days.
Feeling betrayed last year by the PPP for allegedly reneging on a promise of giving deputy premiership to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the Chaudhrys of Gujrat have launched a systematic campaign to level ground in order to grab the slot of prime minister in the event of a change of leader of house.
Among other ministerial slots given to the PML-Q, the ministry for housing is considered the most lucrative, currently held by Faisal Saleh Hayat.
Sources in the PML-Q said that during a recent meeting held at Shujaat’s residence, the party’s information secretary Senator Kamil Ali Agha, MNA Riaz Fatiyana and two women parliamentarians levelled allegations of corruption against Hayat and demanded the leadership to replace him.
Sources in the PML-Q said that besides Agha and Fatiyana, another MNA from the party, Nauman Langriyal, is also among top aspirants of ministerial slots.
The PML-Q leadership wants maximum ministerial slots for its members in order to check further defections in the party. Or else, they will mull other options. They have opened indirect communication channels with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which has already accepted many turncoats of the Q-League.
The third largest party in the ruling alliance, the MQM, has its own apprehensions about its share of ministries in the centre. While the party’s leaders publicly say they support the government for the sake of strengthening democracy, during informal talks the party has always complained about its little representation on the federal cabinet.
Other than the ministry of ports and shipping, they feel other ministries assigned to them are useless. The party’s strength in Senate has also increased along with the ANP.
After the March Senate elections both parties have gained five seats each in the upper house of parliament. Their strength has increased from seven to 12; hence they feel they deserve at least one more cabinet slot. Fata members who are elected as independent members had formed a separate parliamentary group headed by Munir Orakzai, which has been aligned with the government and currently has two ministries.
These members, traditionally known for changing their loyalties with the swing of the wind, are also going through an internal rift and a group has rebelled against their parliamentary leader.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2012.
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Is any benefit to the people of Pakistan with this expected reshuffle? No hopes. Thick headed politicians have their own way, what happens to normal masses, they are not bothered. What a nation!