PML-Q divided over PPP’s offer of cabinet slots

Usman Manzoor
ISLAMABAD: The PPP offer to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) to join the federal cabinet is part of a major deal put before PML-Q including an alliance in the next Senate and general elections, PML-Q leader Faisal Saleh Hayat disclosed to ‘The News.’

Though analysts say that PPP wants to get through the budget process by these tactics and promises, PML-Q leaders are thinking beyond the budget. It is also being talked that PML-Q will split further if it joins the cabinet at this stage.

Faisal Saleh Hayat spoke diplomatically about the deal offered by PPP, the party he left in 2002, while the recently elected Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari opposes it with full force and Sheikh Waqas Akram supports it to save the political system.

The PML-Q claimed on Tuesday that the PPP government was offering slots to the party in the federal cabinet and other lucrative posts, but it has not decided whether or not to accept the offer. PML-Q leaders said that the PPP presented a national agenda to the government to resolve issues facing the common man, and that the government and the PML-Q met recently where the offer to join the cabinet was made by the ruling party.

Faisal Saleh Hayat, Parliamentary Leader of PML-Q in the National Assembly when approached for his comments said that PPP has not only offered the cabinet slots but also the future alliance in the upcoming Senate election; general elections and even in local bodies polls.

He said that it was a complete package deal and so far no decision has been taken because after discussing the offer with the party workers, ticket holders, MPA, MNAs and Senators a major split has been found, some pro and some against joining the cabinet. Therefore in the near future there was no chance of an early decision.

About his personal views, Faisal said he had the same view as the whole party, and has conveyed his views to the party high-ups. He mentioned that all the elected MNAs in PML-Q have their personal political standing therefore the party has to take all those things too into account before taking any decision.

Sheikh Waqas Akram, Senior PML-Q leader when approached for his comments said that it was not for the first time that PML-Q has been asked to join the cabinet. “We have been asked three times earlier and we had refused,” said the PML-Q MNA from Jhang.

He mentioned that PPP had offered them to join the cabinet about one month ago but the party has not yet taken a decision. He said that PPP has offered them the cabinet slots to save the system because what Nawaz Sharif has been doing in the past three years was nothing but efforts to wrap up the political system.

To a question he said that if the Chaudhrys could sit with PPP to join the cabinet then seat adjustment and alliance in the next election could also be discussed. He also maintained that PML-Q had discussed this offer with all the stakeholders of the party even with the ticket holders so that a consensus decision could be taken.

Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari not only strongly criticized and opposed joining the cabinet at this stage but also said that if PML-Q joined the government at this stage, it would be suicidal.

He said that the party did not interact with him over the offer made by the government. “We have witnessed in the past three years that none of the political parties including PML-N, ANP, JUI-F, MQM etc could provide relief to the public after joining hands with PPP therefore PML-Q would commit suicide if it joins the government,” said Leghari adding that PML-Q could better support the government while being in opposition and by advising as opposition.

“If the party wants to oblige five to six persons at this stage by giving them ministries, then at the end of this tenure PML-Q will not have any positive standing,” said Awais Leghari.