PML-Functional may join Federal, Sindh cabinets

KARACHI - Pakistan Muslim League-Functional would join the PPP-led coalition government in the Centre and in Sindh province, sources in PML-F and PPP disclosed to TheNation on Sunday. The sources said that dialogues process has been initiated between two leaders of both the parties to reach any final power-sharing agreement to bring PML-F on board in the Centre and Sindh. Sources in PPP said that on the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and PPP leader Islamuddin Sheikh are holding dialogue with PML-F leaders to reach an agreement on power sharing. Qaim Ali Shah and Islamudian also held meetings with PML- F leader Pir Pagaro to convey the message of President Zardari about power-sharing deal, they added. The sources said the PML-F has demanded three ministries in the Sindh and two ministers in the federal Cabinet, but PPP leadership has offered two ministries in the Sindh and one ministry in the federal Cabinet. A PML-F leader on the condition of anonymity told TheNation that Pir Pagaro has opposed the power sharing deal with PPP, but other party leaders urged Pagaro to join the coalition government. Islamuddin Sheikh held a series of meetings with PML-F leaders to develop understanding on the power-sharing deal with PPP, the sources added. The sources in PPP said that PPP has offered one ministry and induction of an advisor in the Sindh govt and one federal ministry in the cabinet to PML-F. It is worth mentioning here that in the presidential election, PM Yousuf Raza Gilani who is also close relative of Pir Pagaro visited Kingari House to seek his party support for Zardari. The PML-F, on the request of PM Gilani, supported Asif Zardari in the presidential election. When this scribe contacted Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari about holding of talks between PPP and PML-F on power-sharing deal, she denied any such deal with PML-F, saying that her party has not yet decided to expand Sindh Cabinet. Earlier, she had said that PPP had started reconciliation process with all the political parties in the Sindh including PML-F for the larger interest of province. She said that yet party leadership had not decided to increase the size of the Sindh Cabinet. When TheNation contacted PML-F and opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Jam Madad Ali to take his view on power sharing deal with PPP, his cell phone was switched off.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt