Hanging up the saddle: CM, JI chief agree to curb horse-trading

Disgruntled PTI MPAs oppose AJIP’s Senate candidate Liaqat Tarakai

PESHAWAR:

Horse-trading in the upcoming Senate polls will not be a major concern if Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s promises to Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Central Ameer Sirajul Haq are anything to go by.

In a statement issued by the JI on Wednesday, Siraj was quoted saying that Khattak told him he was in touch with opposition leaders in a bid to curb the practice. Both leaders agreed during a meeting that eliminating horse-trading was essential to ensure nobody reaches the Senate using their wealth. Minister for Local Government Inayatullah Khan, Minister for Finance Muzaffar Syed and Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai were also present during this moot.

Division bell

The ruling coalition, however, faces divisions in its ranks.

PTI’s disgruntled lawmakers insist they would not vote for the government’s coalition partner Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP) candidate Liaqat Tarakai, the father of Shahram Tarakai.

A member of the dissenting group told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity they would not vote for Shahram’s father till he merges his party with PTI.

“They have five seats in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly as well as a senior minister and a parliamentary secretary. Now they are asking for a Senate berth,” he said. The PTI lawmaker added if AJIP gets a seat in the Senate, Shahram should step down as health minister.

The member said the strength of PTI’s dissenting group was above 20, not 13 as earlier believed.

The K-P government coalition has the numerical strength to win at least seven Senate seats, while the opposition could potentially claim five.

Finding middle ground

Opposition parties in K-P have been unable to reach an agreement over the distribution of Senate seats from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a lawmaker told The Express Tribune. The opposition MPA, requesting anonymity, said a meeting was held earlier this month to chalk out a strategy. However, the five opposition parties have not met since, he added.

The MPA said there were a number of conflicts of interest that may have complicated issues for all.

“JUI-F wants to keep two seats, Pakistan Peoples Party has two candidates in the electoral fray and influential independents are also trying to make it to the Upper House,” he said. The opposition lawmaker pointed out these problems had complicated the adjustment process.

The MPA said there was an earlier indication that senators would be elected unopposed, however, that is now unlikely.

Keeping the relationship intact

Opposition leader in the K-P Assembly Maulana Lutfur Rehman said opposition parties were engaged in discussions over the Senate elections, but nothing has been finalised. Rehman said efforts were under way to keep the opposition alliance intact.

PPP parliamentary leader Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha said any understanding was likely after the scrutiny of nomination papers. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha was of the view that both JUI-F and PML-N had the requisite number for winning seats from K-P, however, none of them could win a technocratic or women’s seat on their own strength.

Echoing Rehman’s statement, Nalotha also said the PML-N wanted to keep the opposition alliance intact, adding it was better to accommodate PPP and ANP. Nalotha denied reports that PML-N lawmakers from Mansehra were unhappy with the party. He said the demand for a development package was their right. The PML-N parliamentary leader said Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif will visit Peshawar to meet party lawmakers on Friday.

He criticised PTI chief Imran Khan’s statement about horse-trading in K-P, saying it was uncalled for and drew unnecessary attention.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2015.