Although the beleaguered PPP has of late been struggling to keep its disgruntled allies on its side, the party has, however, managed to make some headway in wooing an opposition party to provide it with adequate support.
Relations between the PPP and the MQM have been in a freefall in recent months in the wake of a surge in violence in Karachi.
Worries after reports emerged the MQM may even be considering to pull out of an uneasy alliance may have spurred the PPP into initiating talks with the PML-Q. Although contacts between the PPP and PML-Q are yet to yield any concrete results, the behaviour of the Punjab-based group during the next session of parliament will demonstrate the workability of the new political alignment.
The attitude of the MQM, whose members have emerged from a crucial meeting with Altaf Hussain in London, will be equally important for the future composition of the ruling coalition.
Federal ministers of the group have already missed a cabinet meeting in Lahore last week.
Political observers will also find it hard to disregard how the PML-N positions itself during new sessions of both houses of parliament.
Aside from politics, parliament is also likely to take up a crucial economic agenda.
A bill to reform the taxation system in line with IMF would also be on the agenda, possibly both in the National Assembly and the Senate. The Reformed GST bill is being tabled after the centre and the provinces achieved a consensus.
The first sitting of parliament, scheduled on Monday evening, is likely to be adjourned to mark the death of former president Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, who passed away recently.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2010.
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