While a fresh round of covert talks between the government and opposition has begun to draw a roadmap for the upcoming elections, allied partners of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are still waiting to be taken into confidence.
According to the 20th Amendment, the appointment of a caretaker prime minister would slip from the hands of both the opposition and the government to the ECP if they fail to develop a consensus – a scenario which brought both parties on the same page.
Allied partners, however, remain clueless as to when they’ll be privy to discussions. “We do not have any such information (about secret meetings),” said Wasay Jalil of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) while talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday. He remained sanguine, however, as he said: “The PPP will take the MQM into confidence over the issue.”
Senator Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party also expressed ignorance on the issue, saying, “I have no clue about any such development.”
Khan added: “The government should take all parties in Parliament into confidence while formulating plan for the next elections.”
Senator Kamil Ali Agha of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid told The Express Tribune that the PPP had not shared details yet but would do so soon. “We are the second largest party among the coalition partners of the PPP and must be taken into confidence,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2012.
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