The PPP says it wants to take the MQM on board.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which won a majority of seats in Sindh, has finalised a power sharing formula for forming a coalition government in the province along with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
Per details from sources with knowledge of the development, the incoming government will have a relatively smaller cabinet as compared to the outgoing government which had 50 cabinet members. The number of advisers will also be limited to five.
Sources added that the new government will have between 18 to 19 member cabinet. Of these the PPP will retain up to 11 ministries. The coalition partner MQM will be offered up to seven slots including minister portfolios and advisory positions.
The PPP had said that after 18th amendment, they will field a smaller cabinet. The 18th amendment stipulates that a cabinet has to be 11 per cent of the total strength of the assembly.
The party has also decided to settle upon bringing back Syed Qaim Ali Shah for a record third term as the Sindh chief minister. It is undecided on whether former Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro will return for a second successive term or will the Speaker duties be handed to Mir Hazar Bijrani. Either of them will be a senior minister.
Among the names that have been proposed for the PPP cabinet will be Agha Siraj Durrani, Owais Muzzaffar, Sharmeela Farooqui (reserve seat for women), Makhdoom Rafiqueuz Zaman (former district nazim Hyderabad), Jam Mehtab Dahar, Hasnain Mirza, Sharjeel Memon, and Manzoor Wasan.
Durrani, while talking to The Express Tribune said that negotiations with the MQM are expected to begin in a couple of days and that the PPP wanted to take them on board. “I am 100% sure MQM will join us.”
The finer details of the plan will be ironed out once President Asif Ali Zardari comes to Karachi later in the week.
COMMENTS (17)
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I have heard that MQM will only join if, either CM or Home Department is offered and which does not seem likely. There will be lot of black mailing. I would rather suggest that local bodies elections should be held within 90 days after formation of the government. Anyhow, peace in Karachi is most important. By the way, what about the new governor? Government in the center (NS) should be extra careful in nominating someone who should be a person who respected by all stake holders.
@Shaikh Muneeb: strange,did not found your name in witness.as a citizen if you saw a wrong doing it was your duty to report it or other wise your are guilty too.
This is a disaster and stagnation personified in the making. The only relief that is a wisp in the sky is the Local Bodies Elections. Nevertheless, corruption and lack of will to do good is a thundercloud in front of us. Salams
Local bodies election pivotal.
I wonder why people think that it is the last chance for both parties. Especially after the current election results. The rural population of sindh has always supported PPP despite of their poor governance and corruption. On the other hand, MQM has its militant wing to ensure everything goes in its favor (We all have witnessed it here in khi). What has changed so far? We need to change ourselves first before we expect others to change for the good.
Last opportunity for both MQM and PPP should learn from the past mistakes and make Sindh example of progress for other provinces of Pakistan otherwise both party will be vanished from Sindh!
New Sindhi + Old Sindhi= Sindh. All else in Sindh can only have minimal presence in Sindh politics. This is last chance for both parties,they should capitalize on it
PTI, have fun with your goose egg seats in the Sindh PA. LMAO !!!!
Unconditional surrender by the victorious party; PPP is making history!! Jahan Khan of Edgeware Road London Zindabad! Crime may not pay anywhere else in the world but Sindh is a different story!
Fatal mistake, all kind of reorganization will go in vain.
MQM cannot sit in the opposition. I am afraid Karachi people will suffer another five years. God bless Pakistanis.
Congratulations to the blind supporters of MQM, everything will remain the same as it was last 5 years.
Sindh govt cannot have more than 19 ministers because according to 18th amendment a provincial government couldn't have more cabinet members than 11% of its entire assembly. As there are 170 members of sindh assembly, so the number cannot exceed 19.
They should hold Local body elections wthin 90 days as promised!
@Sindhi Pakistani: True. Both of them have no vision for good governance, but to pollute assets of our country forcing people to die empty stomach/ at the hands of Sheri Gundas
PPP and MQM can govern us for another 5 years so that we can finally get rid of them. All the pre-election drama bazi is so obvious and exposed now.
PPP is new MQM