The Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) is not a tissue paper that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) could use and then throw away, said PML-F chief Pir Pagara while talking to the media on Saturday.
The F-League has refused to leave its portfolios in the Sindh cabinet and has threatened the PPP-led provincial government that if its ministries are taken back, the party would join the opposition benches in the assembly.
Following a meeting with his party’s provincial ministers at Kingri House, Pagara said, “The PPP is always changing its stance. If our party’s ministries are taken back, we shall talk to President Asif Ali Zardari because our agreement is with him and not with the chief minister.”
He said the government is well aware of the fact that if the PML-F leaves the coalition, the PPP would face a difficult time. He also said anyone who replaces Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah would be welcomed.
The PML-F chief said there is no future for criminals in the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), but only for educated and peaceful people. He also said he does not accept the nazim system in the province as it has failed, and his party supports the commissionerate system.
Responding to a question, Pagara said the Supreme Court has not issued any verdict, but has only provided suggestions. “It is mandatory for the judiciary to issue a verdict and not just suggestions,” he added.
Earlier, F-League’s Youth Affairs Minister Jam Madad Ali, Auqaf Minister Rafique Banbhan, Mines and Minerals Minister Imamuddin Shauqeen and Adviser to Chief Minister on Information Technology Imtiaz Sheikh held a meeting with the party chief.
PML-F leaders informed Pagara of their meeting with the chief minister. They said Shah had asked them to vacate their ministries because they belong to the MQM. “However, when Shah was asked what alternate ministries will be provided to them, the chief minister said it will be decided later,” the PML-F leaders told their annoyed party chief.
The F-League decided in the meeting that if the chief ministertakes back their ministries, the party would quit the Sindh government and sit on the opposition benches in the assembly. They observed that Shah is a traditional opponent of Pagara because they both belong to Khairpur.
On the other hand, sources said the PPP has started making changes in the portfolios of its ministers. They said Shazia Marri’s portfolio is likely to change once more.
Marri’s current Ministry of Electric Power might be handed to someone from the MQM, whereas she might be provided with Sharjeel Inam Memon’s Ministry of Information and Archives.
