PML ‘N’ tells JUI on offer of forming govt in Balochistan
Ishaq Dar commented, “We wanted to go together, but Maulana you are too late.” A day after the PML-N and PPP reached a consensus on power-sharing for the next five years, a “not so happy” meeting took place between the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) led by Secretary General Ghafoor Haideri and Pakistan Muslim League ‘N’ led by Ishaq Dar, regarding the potential formation of the provincial government.
The agenda was the proposal from JUI (F) to form two party coalition government in Balochistan, where no party has a clear majority in the provincial assembly.
Dar told Haideri that the PML-N has already decided to form a coalition government with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the province as the power-sharing agreement between the two parties had already been reached in the Centre.
The PML-N leader said he had been trying to reach out to the JUI-F but to no avail. “Now we have struck an agreement with the PPP.”
Dar commented,
“We wanted to go together, but Maulana you are too late.”
JUI-F leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed commented “Ishaq Dar says we took too long in approaching them, however, we took too long to recognize them for who they are,”
“PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) still exists and has not been dissolved. JUI-F leadership was ignored in national and provincial-level decisions,” he lamented.
JUI-F Emir Fazl has refused to accept the February 8 elections and said his party was made to lose elections in several constituencies via rigging and irregularities.In a surprising move, he also met arch-rival PTI leaders and discussed launching joint protests against alleged rigging in the elections.
Moreover, Fazl also claimed that the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was orchestrated and led by former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa in March 2022 — with support from all parties, including PPP and PML-N.
In response, the PPP and PML-N criticized the JUI-F chief over his claims and rejected his no-trust and rigging allegations.
However, PML-N spokesperson Mariam Aurangzeb refuted these reports and said that the political relations between the two parties were founded on mutual understanding.
Chai Chatter for ministries
Meanwhile, a delegation from MQM-P met with PML-N representatives to discuss their demands. The MQM sought three to four ministries in the federal cabinet, including the deputy speaker position, which had already been given to the PPP.
As an alternative, they insisted on four portfolios in the cabinet and legislation to empower local government bodies, a long-standing demand of the MQM. The PML-N agreed to retain Kamran Tessori as Sindh governor
The MQM delegation included Kamran Tessori, Farooq Sattar, and Mustafa Kamal, while the PML-N side included Ishaq Dar and Ayaz Sadiq.
It was further revealed that the PML-N and the PPP would collaborate to establish a government in Balochistan, with Sarfaraz Bugti being a leading candidate for the Chief Minister position. In the Senate, the PML-N will secure the deputy chairman position, while the deputy speaker role in the lower house will be filled by a member of the PPP.
Position of coalitionAccording to “Dawn” the PPP has decided not to join the federal cabinet and that, according to a deal between the two parties, the NA speaker position will be given to the PML-N. They also indicated that the Senate chairmanship is expected to be held by the PPP, with Senator Yousaf Raza Gilani likely to be appointed as the chairman. Additionally, the governorships of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab will be allocated to the PPP, while the MQM will take the Sindh governorship.
