The ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has tried to appease its coalition partner – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – by re-allotting the previous portfolios held by the latter’s ministers, but in the process, it has drawn the ire of another of ally – the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
Fulfilling its commitment with the MQM, the PPP-led provincial government on Friday reassigned the portfolios of Sports and Environment to MQM’s Muhammad Ali Shah and Shaikh Muhammad Afzal, respectively. However, the cabinet members belonging to the PML-Q were annoyed with the share of portfolios given to them.
The same MQM ministers had held these portfolios before parting ways with the government but subsequently, the PPP allotted them to PML-Q leaders after the party joined the government. The Sports and Environment and Alternate Energy portfolios had been with PML-Q’s Haleem Adil Shaikh and Sheheryar Maher, respectively.
However, after returning to the government’s fold, the MQM leaders demanded their earlier held portfolios in Sindh as well as at the Centre.
Under the new arrangement, the provincial government bifurcated the Environment and Alternative Energy ministry and allotted the latter section to Maher; whereas, the Relief portfolio was withdrawn from PPP lawmaker Haji Muzafar Shujra and allotted to PML-Q’s Shaikh.
The re-allotment of portfolios was made a day after Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah’s late Thursday meeting with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad at the Governor’s House, where leaders and ministers belonging to both the parties were also present.
Previously, PML-Q’s Sindh cabinet members had refused to vacate the portfolios but later agreed after their party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain intervened into the matter.
According to the PML-Q’s Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister, however, the party agreed to vacate these ministries on condition of some promises.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Shaikh said the PPP leadership had promised that the complete ministry of Relief and Rehabilitation will be given to him. “Similarly, it was promised that Maher will be given another ministry along with Alternative Energy as compensation to the Environment Department,” he added.
He said that in protest, both PML-Q members will not take charge of their new assignments and inform their party chief about the situation on his return from abroad.
Meanwhile, PPP’s Sindh Information and Electric Power Minister Shazia Marri was of the view that no ministry carries lesser importance and all have the capacity to render services for the people.
Commenting on the reservations expressed by PML-Q lawmakers, she said assigning portfolios to his cabinet members was the domain of the chief minister and hoped that the PML-Q leaders will continue to cooperate as earlier.
