Hectic consultations are going on in the ranks and files of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) over joining the PPP-led coalition government, as Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is making efforts to strengthen its government in Centre ahead of federal budget 2011-12.
Sources in the PML-Q told Business Recorder that the party is divided on the issue of joining the PPP-led coalition government, as PML-Q legislators and other leaders have difference of opinion on this particular issue. The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the PML-Q is going to meet soon to formulate a party policy on the proposal of the PPP leadership to join the PPP-led coalition government at centre, the sources said, adding: "The PPP government has already given some positive signals in a bid to persuade the PML-Q leadership to join the federal government."
The sources further claimed that there are some PML-Q legislators who support the idea of joining the PPP government to launch mega development works in their respective constituencies as it will help them win the next elections. They also want to join the PPP government in a bid to persuade it to take pro-people policies, the sources added.
According to them, the PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussein did not want to take any decision without taking his party leaders on board. "If the PML-Q joins the PPP-led government, it would not only strengthen the incumbent government but also strengthen democracy," the sources said.
The sources further claimed there are elements in the party ranks who are staunch opponents of joining the government at centre. "They believe that this move would prove fatal for the party," the sources added. Terming talks between PPP and PML-Q as a routine matter, Advisor to President Senator Faisal Raza Abidi said that the doors of PPP were always open for all political parties for dialogue.
"PPP believes in reconciliation and President Asif Ali Zardari was taking this policy forward successfully in the larger interest of the country," he said, adding: "Talks were underway with the PML-Q, which was an important political party having presence in national and provincial assemblies. We wish that all political parties should prepare a joint agenda which is need of the hour and help put the country on the path of development and prosperity."