Govt likely to seek more time from PML-N

ISLAMABAD – The government is likely to seek more time from the PML-N for the implementation of its 10-point reforms agenda during the stock taking exercise on Tuesday. PML-N had announced on February 15 that it would hold no more parleys with the government on reforms agenda and would hold stock taking on the implementation of reforms on February 22 to decide its future course of action.
It had categorically linked support to the government’s plans for additional revenue measures with implementation of reforms within the given time. An informed source said the government was likely to take a stance that the accountability bill and recovery of loans required more time and the revival of magistracy for price control would need at least a few more days.
However, the PML-N is likely to take a tough stance, as its demand for setting up parliamentary committee for transparent appointments on key posts of the Election Commission of Pakistan has not been met so far. The PML-N source said the party was not satisfied with various measures taken by the government on the implementation of the reforms agenda, like many of the relieved ministers were still using official facilities.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani took into confidence a joint meeting of the PPP and its allied parties on the government’s talks with the PML-N and other political parties on the economic agenda. The PM said the economic position would improve in the coming months but political stability was a must for benefiting from economic gains and for the purpose, the government wanted to continue reconciliation with all political players.
Chairing the meeting, Gilani vowed to carry on the government’s policy of reconciliation and avoiding all sorts of confrontation despite being provoked.A PPP source, however, said PPP MNA Nawab Yousaf Talpur suggested Gilani hold a separate parliamentary party meeting so as the internal issues of the party could be discussed.
The source said Babar Awan told the participants that the PML-N negotiators did not talk about any deadlines during the talks however, some other leaders of the PML-N were raising the issue in the media. The source quoted Awan as saying that this dichotomy of policy created problems for both the parties and this behavior by some PML-N leaders was ruining the talks.