ISLAMABAD – As the top command of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) fine-tune their power-sharing deal, parliamentarians from the former ruling party have entered an intra-party race to get ministerial slots in a government they have been dubbing the most ‘corrupt and incompetent’ in the country’s history.
A source in the PML-Q told Pakistan Today that under the power-sharing agreement between the Chaudhrys and President Asif Ali Zardari, the PML-Q would get the slot of senior minister in the federal cabinet equivalent to deputy prime minister for Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, besides six to seven positions in federal or state ministries.
The power-sharing deal that is likely to be announced before the second phase of cabinet formation, has triggered a ministerial race amongst PML-Q leaders in both Houses of parliament. According to party insiders, the Chaudhrys have already selected a few for accommodation in the cabinet.
“There are some legal hitches in the way of Pervaiz Elahi becoming deputy prime minister, therefore, the PML-Q is demanding Punjab’s gubernatorial slot in exchange for the position of deputy prime minister,” the source said.
The source said that the Chaudhrys had convinced the PPP that a PML-Q governor in Punjab was the best option for the PPP to inflict maximum political damage to the PML-N. The source said the Chaudhrys would give final touches to the deal after getting free from their domestic engagements related to forthcoming marriage of Salik Hussain, son of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
“The Chaudhrys have so far marked those PML-Q lawmakers for ministerial slots who remained loyal to them in the last three years, including Amir Muqam, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Ghous Bukhsh Mehar, Faisal Saleh Hayat, Wasim Sajjad and Riaz Pirzada, but Faisal Saleh Hayat has flatly refused to become part of Gilani’s cabinet,” the source said.
The source said the Chaudhrys also wanted the slot of adviser on foreign affairs for Mushahid Hussain, but elected PML-Q MNAs were opposing the demand. Talking to Pakistan Today, Amir Muqam denied that the PML-Q was joining the coalition government. “There are severe differences in the party over the power-sharing deal with the PPP and I think the party’s last decision would be against joining the ruling alliance,” he added.
PML-Q Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Faisal Saleh Hayat said the PML-Q had decided not to join the coalition government. “We had PPP’s offers of cabinet slots and a long-term political partnership around a month ago, but the PML-Q has not accepted the offer,” he said, adding that there was a split in the party on the question of joining the PPP-led coalition.
“Intensive dialogue is underway, but it is unlikely that the party will announce a final decision in this regard any time soon, as we are prudently analysing the offer,” he said. A source in the government also confirmed that the PPP had offered six to eight ministries to the PML-Q.
“Apart from offering portfolios of federal and state ministers, the PPP also asked the PML-Q for a long term political alliance aimed at contesting next senate and general elections,” the source said.
