President Asif Ali Zardari has assured Punjab Chief Minister and President of PML (N) Shahbaz Sharif that PPP would not destabilise the present coalition government in Punjab and that it (PPP) "wants to bury the hatchet". This assurance was conveyed by PPP Punjab Parliamentary leader Riaz Ahamad who called on Shahbaz at Chief Minister's Secretariat here on Monday.
It was his first meeting after this month's presidential election wherein the two coalition partners had put up their separate candidates, and voted against each other.
Talking to newsmen after holding half-an-hour meeting with Shahbaz Sharif, Riaz said: "It is not a cease-fire, but a reiteration of the pledge that the two parties would remain coalition partners in the province." He said that Punjab cabinet would soon hold its meeting where all issues, including induction of new ministers, would be resolved amicably. It is learnt that PPP and PML (N) have agreed to set up a four-member committee comprising Zulfikar Ali Khosa and Sanaullah from PML (N) and Riaz Ahmad and Tanvir Ashraf Kaira from PPP to meet and sort out their differences.
Political analysts say that Saturday night's Marriott Hotel bomb blast had played a decisive role in the PPP circles' change of heart, which caused a sense of insecurity among the masses and exposed the shortcomings of security, rescue and relief apparatus of the Federal capital.
They recalled that PPP had been flirting and hobnobbing with Chaudhries of Gujrat and fostering forward blocks through political maverick but media and business tycoon, Governor Salmaan Taseer to topple dynamic Shahbaz. However, it has now realized the futility and grave consequences of any administrative or government change in Punjab.
They said that among the four Chief Ministers, Shahbaz has won the hearts of the people by breaking the cartel of flour mill-owners, hoarders, black marketers and profiteers and making the flour available to the common man at his doorsteps at the fixed price of Rs 300 per 20 kg.
"People admire his administrative skills and devotion", they added. They noted that PML (N) had been demanding removal of governor Salmaan Taseer who was appointed by former President Pervez Musharraf in his discretion in place of Khalid Maqbool, for ulterior motives.
Journalists noted with surprise on Sunday that PML (N)'s eye sore Governor Taseer was not present at the Allma Iqbal Airport to receive Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and only Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was there to receive him. Prime Minister thanked Shahbaz for extending full co-operation for elimination of terrorism in the country. Analysts say that Nawaz Sharif's goodwill gesture to accept the invitation and attend the Parliament's joint session for the President's address and later on the two leaders' friendly embrace also left good impression on their party leaders and parliamentarians fraternity.
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