Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is paving the way to get support of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) on General Sales Tax (GST) Bill, 2010 in the Parliament, and seat to seat adjustment in the forthcoming local bodies' elections in Punjab, sources told the Business Recorder.
In this regard, ties between PPP and PML-Q are being visibly strengthened which may lead to the two parties to agree on a seat to seat adjustment in the forthcoming local bodies' elections in Punjab. Both parties are moving forward towards a political alliance before these elections.
Sources in PPP and PML-Q told Business Recorder that both parties are working towards nominating common candidates in the coming local elections; and the PPP is also trying to get support of PML-Q on Reformed General Sales Tax Bill, 2010 in Parliament. Sources in the government said that PPP is making hectic efforts to get support of all coalition partners as well as PML-Q on RGST Bill, 2010.
They said that in this regard, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appointed MNA Hamid Yar Hiraj, PML-Q, as new Chairman of the Earthquake Reconstruction Authority (Erra), as proposed by Shujaat Hussain, which is being seen in the capital as a practical move towards increased interaction between the PPP and PML-Q.
The PPP has also reportedly agreed to support PML-Q candidate Owais Ahmed Laghari, son of former President Farooq Ahmed Laghari, in Dera Ghazi Khan. These steps indicate that PML-Q would support the government in the RGST Bill, 2010. Sources also said that the PPP is likely to give the chairmanship of parliamentary committee for appointment of Judges to PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain as another incentive to get support on RGST Bill 2010.
When the government tabled the RGST Bill, 2010 in Parliament, the PPP not only faced criticism from opposition benches but it also faced a lot of embarrassment as all the three coalition partners --Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F)--came out in open opposition to the Bill.
Sources said that President Asif Ali Zaradari had given special task to Interior Minister Rehman Malik to appease the MQM and to soften its stance on the RGST Bill. They said that MQM's condition was PPP's support for the imposition of agriculture income tax that MQM has already introduced in the National Assembly. The government is likely to accept this condition.
To appease JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and meet his longstanding demand, the Prime Minister appointed Mohammad Khan Sherani as chairman of the Islamic Ideology Council (IIC): the price exacted by Fazl for supporting the government on the RGST bill.
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