The PPP leadership has delayed the expected cabinet reshuffling in the hope of wooing back the MQM in the coalition government at the Centre.
Political sources in the government privy to the talks with the MQM and the government said they were hopeful that the MQM would join the cabinet sooner than later. Their prayers were partially granted when MQM chief Altaf Hussain ordered Dr Ishratul Ebad to move back to the Governor’s House, with the federal government arranging a special plane to transport him to Karachi from Dubai where he was ever since the crisis emerged after the MQM quit the government. Sources claimed that the governor’s return was the first step towards a full reconciliation with the estranged MQM that pulled out of the government after the PPP leadership refused to concede two AJK seats in the recent elections. They said it could take sometime before it was justified for the MQM to rejoin the federal cabinet.
Already, the PPP is willing to address the main complaint of the MQM by giving up its claim to the two AJK Assembly seats to the MQM, as part of the renewed understanding with the MQM. The MQM would further expect the government to roll back the restoration of magistracy in Sindh, a move that has incensed the MQM greatly, although the matter is in courts now. “Some more concessions or a visit by a top PPP dignitary to Nine Zero will set the stage for the MQM to rejoin the federal government,” a senior politician said, requesting not to be named given the sensitivity of the issue.
“The MQM has now become too addictive to political power and it cannot not stay out of power for long” he commented lightly. However, the MQM leaders contradict reports of its rejoining the government, saying they would play the role of the opposition in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the government has been sitting for sometime on the one last cabinet reshuffle. Sources said the reshuffle would entail a mere changing of portfolios of the sitting ministers. However, Pervaiz Elahi was likely to get the Commerce Ministry, they added. At present, Elahi is the federal minister for industries and defence production. But the sources revealed that the PML-Q leader is quitting the defence production portfolio and in lieu, he would be given the Ministry of Commerce besides the charge of the industries department. It is, however, not clear how the PPP leaders plan to deal with Amin Fahim, the senior PPP leader who is the commerce and trade minister presently.
