PML-Q walking on thin ice

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The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) is likely to be besieged with more setbacks as their stalwarts from the Peshawar valley have been ignored in the federal cabinet. Insiders told Pakistan Today that PML-Q members had requested party president Chaudry Shujaat Hussain to incorporate MPs from Peshawar and the Malakand region in the new federal set up. However, instead of honouring such a request, the party leadership recommended residents of the Mansehra region; Shah Jehan Yousaf for the office of minister of state and Syed Qasam Shah for the office of adviser to the prime minister. Both of these ministers were occupants of the same office during the administration of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Party insiders stated that PML-Q Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KP) chapter proposed the names of former Justice Mohammad Azam Khan and Intekhab Khan Chamkani for the office of advisors in the federal cabinet, though, both of them have been ignored. Rumours are afloat that both Sardar Shah Jehan Yousaf and Syed Qasam Shah have already finalized a deal with the leadership of Jamiat-Ul-Ulema Islam (JUI-F). Both, Yousaf and Shah are likely to join the JUI-F upon completion of the current government As former federal minister Azam Swati has joined Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, the JUI-F need a heavyweight in Hazara for winning a seat in the next general elections. PML-Q was delivered a setback when Engineer Amir Muqam along with his supporters from across KP, changed parties and joined the PML faction led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Upon getting official slots, PML-Q stalwarts from Peshawar were making attempts to detach supporters of Engineer Amir Muqam.