With the annual budget already under preparation, the quest for an extended coalition has become a matter of priority for the federal administration. With people still remembering that Zardari had nicknamed PML(Q) as the Qatil League, the decision for the PPP to ask the party to join the coalition was by no means an easy one.. Local rivalries in Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin too were an important barrier. With the PPP core committee meeting twice in four days, the issues are settled as far as the party is concerned. The PML(Q) leaders who had for more than three decades claimed they had yet to settle a blood feud with the PPP have turned out to be more pragmatic by readily agreeing to join the coalition. The differences within their party over joining the coalition however remain unresolved. The PML(Q) is being offered six slots in the federal cabinet. Had the party been a disciplined organization, the arrangement might have sufficed to satisfy its rank and file. As things stand, the PML(Q) is a collection of groups brought together through political engineering by the security agencies under Musharraf’s direction. Power being the sole uniting factor, the party has seen several rebellions ever since it lost elections three years back. Many fear of being ignored as the ministerial nominations are made. There is, thus, a lot of dissent within the party over joining the coalition.
The MQM knows it would not be possible for it to twist the PPP’s arm anymore in case the PML(Q) was to join the coalition. It has therefore tried to convince the Chaudhrys to put up demands that would be difficult for the PPP to concede. The JUI (F) who is feeling isolated after leaving the coalition is also doing its best to throw a spanner in the works.
Another problem that stands in the way is the PML(Q)’s eying of the gubernatorial post in Punjab. The party is reportedly seeking the job to settle scores with the PML(N), something the PPP is not yet willing to concede. One will not have to wait for long though as all these issues will have to be settled before May 28 when the budget is presented.
