The PPP and the PML (N) might maintain status quo in Punjab for the time being and they are likely to take the thorny issues related to power sharing formula in the central province after the upcoming Eid. This political wrangling could be resolved after intervention of the top leadership of the two parties, informed sources told Business Recorder on Thursday.
They were of the view that the two parties had not reached to a point of no return. However, there are certain issues to be sorted out. According to the sources, if the PPP and PML (N) leadership in Punjab failed to agree on power sharing formula, then the issue might be taken up with President Asif Ali Zardari and the PML (N) chief Nawaz Sharif.
The PPP central leadership, according to the sources, is pressing the PML (N) to let the PPP complete its term. The PPP wanted a guarantee that no mid-term elections are held, the sources added.
The PML (N) has conveyed that it is part of the democratic system and it will never be part of the destabilisation of the new-born system. But the PML (N) is also of the view that PPP will have to fulfil its promises especially the reinstatement of pre-November 3 judiciary. The other disturbing factor for the PPP is the PML-N's possible participation in lawyers' movement for reinstatement of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Sources said that the committee tasked to work out modalities of implementing the 40:60 power sharing between the PPP and the PML (N) in Punjab has not yet accomplished its assignment. The committee comprising Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa and Rana Sanaullah from the PML (N) and Raja Riaz and Tanvir Ashraf Kaira from the PPP is expected to meet again to reach an agreement.
There are certain media reports, which appeared on Thursday suggesting that PML (N) had demanded the accommodation of PML (N) MNAs in the centre and getting the same treatment as for PPP (MPAs) in Punjab. This demand from the PML (N) is not being accepted by the PPP, the sources said.
According to them, the PML (N) is enjoying a convincing majority in the Punjab assembly and that is the reason due to which the party is making some adjustments for its MNAs in the centre. The PML (Q) forward bloc has strengthened the PML (N) and was of the view that they could be re-elected if they were disqualified. This is one of the issues, which irritates the PPP leadership, the sources said.
A PML (N) leader said that defection clause could not be applied on the lawmakers who form a group, which is formally known as forward bloc. Several applications, which the PML (N) filed against the PPP forward bloc that had come into existence after 2002 elections, were rejected by the Election Commission with a plea that defection clause could not be applied to the forward bloc.
The PML (N) opponents are arguing otherwise and PML (Q) is strongly being pressed to file applications against the forward bloc members so that Q-league could form a coalition with the PPP in Punjab.
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