Decision on Punjab coalition after poll: Wattoo

LAHORE - Advisor to Prime Minister on Industrial Affairs Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has said that Punjab Chief minister Shahbaz Sharif would be asked to seek fresh vote of confidence if PPP decides to quit Punjab Cabinet. Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, Wattoo said the PML-N did not have simple majority in Punjab, and if PPP decided to quit the cabinet, the Punjab CM would have to seek fresh vote of confidence to prove that he enjoyed support of majority in Punjab Assembly. Replying to a question, he said the PPP would decide the fate of coalition in Punjab after the presidential election. He said that until now, no responsible PML-N leader has asked the PPP to quit Punjab government, and in case of such a demand from Nawaz party, the PPP would seriously think over it. He said he was here to seek votes for party's presidential nominee and not to conquer Punjab. He asked the PML-N leadership to withdraw its presidential candidate in favour of PPP nominee in line with the spirit of Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed between the two parties. The PPP leader said that one of the basic points in CoD was to respect people's mandate, and the PML-N, being signatory to the said document, should withdraw its candidate. He also appealed to the PML-Q leadership to withdraw its candidate to pave the way for election of PPP candidate unopposed. Manzoor Wattoo said that Asif Zardari was symbol of federation, and apart from the PPP, he was also enjoying the support of MQM, JUI, ANP, PPP (S), FATA and independent members.  He claimed that PPP candidate would get over 450 votes in the presidential election, while his opponents, Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui of PML-N and Mushahid Hussain Syed of PML-Q would get 140 to 150 and 60 to 70 votes respectively.

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