PPP moves closer to finalising power sharing formula in Sindh
PPP will have a smaller cabinet with the party keeping upto 11 ministries and the MQM being offered seven portfolios.
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.
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.