Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid Sindh chapter on Tuesday supported the party’s central leadership’s parlays with the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, and authorized the party’s Sindh president, Ghous Bux Maher to make the final decision regarding joining the coalition government in Sindh.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s executive committee held at a local hotel. Presided by Maher, some 165 leaders including senators, MNAs and MPAs attended the meeting along with two sitting MPAs belonging to PML-Likeminded – Nuzhat Pathan and Chetan Mal. “Extending cooperation to the government is a tough decision, however, it would be taken in context with current critical situation of the country”, said the party’s Provincial General Secretary Haleem Aadil Shaikh.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Shaikh said the party welcomed the presence of Nuzhat Pathan and Chetan Mal at the meeting. According to the party sources the PML-Q leadership expects two ministries in the Sindh government. The sources said Ghous Bux Maher’s son, MPA Shaheryar Maher, and a nominee of Thatta’s Shirazis are expected in the provincial government. The names of MPAs Fayaz Shah Shirazi and Muhammad Ali Malkani are under consideration in this regard, sources added. There are 11 PML-Q MPAs in the Sindh Assembly but three of them joined the treasury benches soon after the formation of the PPP-led coalition in the province.
Of the remaining 8, five joined PML-Likeminded. PML-Likeminded members actually belong to Arbab Group, a group led by former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim. Besides Arbab Rahim himself two other members in his group are Abdul Razaque Rahimoon and Arbab Zulfiqar Ali. After the coalition is formed, the Sindh Assembly will have an interesting scenario, an almost opposition free legislative house. Presently the opposition in the 168-member house comprises the PML-Q and PML-F members.
However, practically, being part of the coalition government Pir Pagaro led PML-F is also a coalition party sitting on opposition benches, leaving only three members of the PML-Likeminded or Arbab Group in the opposition.
