By Muhammad Tahir ISLAMABAD, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan is heading for wide- ranging political developments in few days as the second largest opposition party is set to join the government led by arch-rival Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of President Asif Ali Zardari. The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), formed by former military President Pervez Musharraf prior to 2002 general elections, will get several top positions in the ruling coalition that also include the office of Deputy Prime Minister. Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said Friday that the constitution will be amended to create the position of the Deputy Prime Minister as the constitution has currently no room for such post. The PML-Q will also get several other ministries in the federal cabinet, several party leaders have confirmed. Party leaders said that a formal announcement is likely to be made on Sunday. PML-Q had been bitter rival of PPP since it was launched for the 2002 parliamentary elections by then President Pervez Musharraf to counter PML-N party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, sacked by Musharraf in a blood-less coup in 1999. PML-Q was launched by the rebel leaders of Sharif's PML-N with the patronage by Musharraf. Despite opposition by some PPP and PML-Q leaders to the new alliance, senior leaders of both parties defended the efforts to what they argue address major problems in the country. But political analysts did not agree with the notion and said that the main objective is to counter Sharif's PML-N in the coming parliamentary elections in 2013. Political observers were also of the opinion that PML-Q opted for joining the ruling coalition to make seat adjustment for the elections. The new alliance will also make adjustment for the election next year of 50 seats of the 100-member Senate, or upper house of the parliament. Political analyst Shafqat Mehmood said that the new alliance is also aimed to smoothly approve the 2011-2012's budget to be presented in late May. Critics said that a corruption case against the son of the PML- Q leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, also prompted the new alliance to save him. Chaudhry Monis Elahi, the elder son of Pervez Elahi has been arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency in the corruption case. The new alliance will strengthen the ruling coalition in the parliament to smoothly make legislation. The PML-Q has 50 seats in the National Assembly, lower house of the parliament, and is placed third biggest party after the PPP with 127 seats and PML-N' s 91 seats. PML-Q is the second biggest party in the 100-seat senate with 21 seats after PPP's 27. The PPP-PML-Q alliance will also place the new alliance in a strong position in the country's biggest eastern Punjab province. The province, the stronghold of PML-N is considered to be the power for any party because of majority seats in the National Assembly. Political analysts opined out that the new alliance will give a tough time to PML-N in the next general elections in Punjab. The new alliance will also give a boost to the coalition in other three provinces. If the PPP succeeded to form alliance with PML-Q and also bring back the former allies, then it would be the biggest coalition. The new alliance will not only complete its rest of two-year term and will emerge a main force for the general elections, said analysts, adding that this development will also force other parties to form a new alliance under Nawaz Sharif. At the same time Islamic groups are also considering a new election alliance.
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Saturday, April 30, 2011
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