Pakistan People's Party member Dr Sher Afgan Niazi on Tuesday withdrew his resignation as party's parliamentary leader in the National Assembly following assurance from Sikandar Iqbal and Aftab Sherpao that merit would be the only criterion for representation in the Cabinet.
Sher Afgan created turmoil in party ranks by handing over his resignation, protesting over 'non-democratic' trend in the party vis-à-vis running the party and selection of probables for the Federal Cabinet.
"Rao and Sherpao Sahiban persuaded me to withdraw my resignation, assuring us that honesty and competency will be the guideline for finalisation names of PPP MNAs who will get the slots as federal and state ministers," Sher Afgan told Business Recorder.
He said that enough had been said about how the party's ministers performed since November 2002. "We will not let any corrupt MNA from our side swear in as Cabinet member," he added.
Some observers are of the opinion that for the time being things have normalised but the storm is not over and it can hit the party again if the aspirants are left out.
In reply to a question, he said that some five to six ministers--three federal and three state ministers--would be taken from PPP and these will be selected according to a mutually agreed formula. He added that 'cleans' will find place in the Cabinet.
He expressed ignorance when told that the party has given the right to President Pervez Musharraf to determine who will get slots in the Cabinet from his party. "You better ask Rao sahib; I don't know anything about this".
However, despite repeated efforts, the party chairman Sikandar Iqbal was not available for comments.