Both parties have confirmed the meeting in which senior leaders Jehangir Khan Tareen will represent the PTI and Sirajul Haq will represent JI. PHOTO: FILE
The senior leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will meet on Wednesday (today) in a bid to resolve their differences over the education ministry, which both parties desire.
Both parties have confirmed the meeting in which senior leaders Jehangir Khan Tareen will represent the PTI and Sirajul Haq will represent JI.
“The venue and timing of this meeting is yet to be decided. However, the agenda will remain the allotment of the education ministry,” said a senior PTI leader requesting anonymity.
He explained the PTI wanted to retain the provincial education ministry, but the JI was also determined to have this portfolio.
The leader was of the view the education ministry was a key portfolio and crucial for the party’s reform plans. “Our manifesto contains significant reforms in the education sector and we have to implement those reforms to bring changes in the sector,” he said.
The PTI will try to convince the JI to let the senior partner in the ruling coalition retain the ministry, he maintained.
The leader added all issues pertaining to the coalition government are likely to be discussed during Wednesday meeting.
PTI chief Imran Khan has interviewed all those nominated for ministries, the leader said, while hoping the disagreement with the JI would be resolved amicably.
JI Spokeperson Israrullah Advocate also confirmed leaders of both parties would meet on Wednesday. However, he maintained he did not know about the venue and the timings of the meeting.
Irsar told The Express Tribune the meeting’s focus would be on discussing issues faced by the provincial coalition. He denied his party had any differences with PTI over the education ministry.
“The media is giving the impression there are differences between JI and PTI,” he claimed.
Incidentally, the difference over the education ministry has been a main hurdle in the way of the oath-taking of the provincial cabinet. Apart from the two senior leaders Sikander Sherpao and Sirajul Haq, remaining members of the cabinet are yet to be announced.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS (24)
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@Aysha: I thought TTP asked for NS guranttee some time ago??? wake up, donot be maryam nawaz
@Sana: Stop living in day dreams. This terrorist coalition can rule only in KPK under the blessing of taliban. Your popularity in karachi can be judged by the fact the only seat you won is NA-250 which experienced an extremely low turn out due to MQM's boycott.
JI is the only true democratic party in the country where intraparty elections are held regularly and the leadership actually changes. All the other parties have lifetime presidents and Chairmen whether they hold intraparty elections or not. In addition while all the other parties are recognized by one man or family JI is not a family business but have a defined ideology whether one agrees with it or not. With these facts and background it is imp for JI to have the ministry of education to preach its ideology and this is a golden opportunity for them. If JI insist on education ministry then PTI would have no option as their govt depends upon JI and the lotas of Sherpao. The independents would go with who the next CM of KPK would be. Time to think for PTI and its supporters!
When will the 'anonymous person' disclose his identity who give all these negative news about PTI to ET.
@ Ayesha We will be very Glad and thankfull to you If U Plz come to KPK from Karachi for resolving the issue between JI and PTI. Anyway Differnces is he beauty of Democracy. Note: JI and PTI partenership will cleanbold Karachi BHatta MAfia and wil through down into indian ocean in Next Election, if done through Electronic Voting System :) :) :)
@doom correct your info..pti took all indepndnts but still there was a shortage of 7 members!..JI is necesseray for pti
@Inam - Umm, it is federal and provincial law alreqady. In Punjab, there are fines (in law) if you do not send kids to school. That is not applied but govt schooling is free and so are books at most places. Beaconhouse mein yeh nahin bataatay
The good thing is both are fighting for ministries in which there is no money involved as well as both wants to perform
@sameer!! stoping weapons in KPK is a day dream. There is only one way to stop illegal weapons, shut the borders with Afghanistan completel. which is almost impossible.
PTI and JI should invite their common friend TTP, to resolve this issue
If PTI bends to JI's pressure, it will be the first nail in PTI's coffin.
@Pathan: Thanks Pathan for informing about other lucrative ministries. In education I favour stage wise reform starting from de-politicising education deparment by letting the officers decide who should serve where. followed by elimination of ghost schools, then putting all the progress and public affairs of education ministry on-line with compusory regular updates and evaluations and so on. Any drastic and immediate change can bring the ministry to destruction.
Above all, The PTI should strictly restric their MPAs/Ministers from interfereing in the trasnfers/postings in all departments.
@Inam: This has already been done. In KP it started in the days of MMA govt and was given a comprehensive coverage by ANP. In the aftermath of Article 25-A for free and compulsory Education, legislation has been done by the PPP's government at Federal tier and in Sindh Province. PTI instead of setting an example in this regard needs to follow. However by ensuring its effective and efficient implementation they can set a good precedent.
Why not give the education ministry to Pervaiz Khattak's family members as well. Just make sure to tell everyone that the decision was based on "merit".
PTI are slow learners :)
is pti going to start any sought of campaign against ill-legal weapons in KPK ???
This wouldn't be such a problem if PTI chose less regressive partners. There were enough independents in KP.
This is why us more leftist people never could support PTI. Even if PTI is centrist; it allies with the worst right-wing parties and that has right-wing results.
Where education ministry is money minting because of the international funds destined for the education development in the northeren areas of Pakistan, let's remember only the example of Malala case, there we should also remember that education has formed the culture of "taleban" and the lack of change in the education standards will only increment fanatism in the country giving way to the terrorism at the end. Now which political party among the two candidates will be able to make the necessary changes?
It is quite interesting situation. Without JI, PTI might get a problem to run KPK for long time.....
Health can be given cause quite frankly agenda for both (infact all parties) is the same when it comes to health. Implementation is the main issue. In education agendas of both differ.
PTI should introduce Free Compulsory Education to any level to start with and upgrade it later periodically. This will set an example for others to follow.
At least they are not fighting for money-minting ministries like forestry, excise, etc. . @Zubair: imo too, Education should be retained by PTI to test their reform agenda, which if goes successful can bring a revolutionary long term change in the society. And then JI has no substantial credentials in the education sector but they have specialized in humanitarian relief, etc so something like welfare ministry suits their strength imo. In any case, this would be interesting to see how both parties handle the situation - like any other status-quo partners or like true revolutionaries, as they claim.
Education, Health, Finance and Zakat & Ushr are the money minting ministries of KP. JI should not insist on getting the cream of minstries and leave the filth for PTI. Preferably Education, Health, Local governance, Law and Justice, Planning & development and Communication & Works should be retained by PTI.