JI, AJIP leaders say matter of filling vacant ministries not discussed yet . PHOTO: WASEEM NAZIR/EXPRESS/FILE
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) decision to break off its alliance with the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) was largely taken without keeping its other coalition partners in the loop, shared insiders.
A Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune on Sunday the PTI took the decision on its own and they were not conferred with beforehand.
However, he insisted, JI had no hard feelings over the matter as the PTI was in the driving seat and it was their prerogative to take such decisions.
“Discussing such issues with other parties might have resulted in disclosure because the government has more than one partner,” he argued.
Vacant seats
PTI had formed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government with three coalition partners – JI, QWP and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP), however, it is now left with only two partners after it ended its five-month-long alliance with the QWP last week. The breakup occurred over allegations two QWP ministers were involved in corruption.
QWP’s ouster has left three seats in the provincial cabinet up for grabs, however, remaining coalition partners have not yet discussed the matter of filling the vacant ministries, said the JI leader. “QWP’s departure was followed by a public holiday and a meeting is likely to be held in the coming few days, wherein this issue might be taken up,” he added.
Senior AJIP leader and Minister for Agriculture Shahram Khan Taraki also expressed ignorance over the future of vacant cabinet seats. He said the issue had not been discussed at the coalition level and he was not in a position to comment upon it.
A stronger opposition
Incidentally, the exit of QWP’s 10 MPAs from the treasury benches is likely to boost the strength of the opposition and increase PTI’s reliance on smaller parties and independent MPAs.
Furthermore, the difference between the opposition and treasury benches numbers has also decreased.
The PTI has 53 seats in the provincial legislature, AJIP has about five, JI eight while two independents are also supporting the coalition. This takes the ruling alliance’s combined strength to 68 in a house of 124 MPAs.
At the moment, two seats are lying vacant after the assassination of former law minister Israrullah Khan Gandapur and disqualification of Yousaf Ayub Khan. The number of opposition lawmakers has increased to 53 with the QWP joining its ranks. This is likely to create problems for PTI in the future.
Even the departure of its smaller partner AJIP, which has five seats, could leave PTI with a simple majority of about 63 seats.
One member of All Pakistan Muslim League and three independents, including two who support the treasury benches, are likely to gain much importance in the follow-up to the departure of QWP.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2013.
COMMENTS (13)
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Only APML/Mush and JI are the natural partners of PTI and IK. Unless he loses the support to TTP and ISI coalition he is safe.
@iftikhar ahmad:
Not just Pakhtoon Politics but IK needs another life to understand politics.
there are 123 seats not 124
Imran Khan dictates KP government and needs no consultation with his allies. He needs more time to understand Pakhtoon politics.
Jamat-e-Islami should exit the coalition on this issue asap or it will lose its credibility.
For ET there seems only one party ruling in Pakistan and that is PTI. Lol, keeping in view your bias against them, I wonder of your fate if they make it to the power at national level.
PTI being in driving seat took the decision and implemented it and look at PML (N), they could not take a decision on talks with PTT and called APC then APC took the decision and PML(N) has postponed it. PML(N) does not want to take any responsibility though they keep saying they have mandate.