News
Monday, May 02, 2011
PPP, PML-Q strike power-sharing deal
* Both parties agree to work together for ensuring electoral reforms, reforms in FATA, creation of new provinces
* Decide to cooperate in next elections
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Q on Sunday night agreed to form a coalition government and cooperate in the next general elections.
A meeting was held at the Presidency between the leaders of PPP and PML-Q, which was attended by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Raja Basharat from the PML-Q side, while President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the PPP co-chairman, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar represented the PPP side.
Briefing media persons after the meeting was over, Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting took place in the context of the ongoing dialogue between the two parties, aimed at political re-alignment and strengthening reconciliation to address various issues confronting the country in an atmosphere of political stability, mutual tolerance and accommodation. The two parties agreed to work together and cooperate for strengthening democracy, ensuring electoral reforms, reforms in FATA, creation of new provinces, especially in southern Punjab (Saraiki) and Hazara subject to consultations with the people and approval of stakeholders, including making appropriate amendments to the constitution for this purpose. Babar said the two parties agreed to cooperate in a number of areas of concern to the people, including economic uplift, controlling inflation, issues of power shortage, transparency, accountability and strengthening of the law and order situation in the country. Following the agreement, in principle, the PML-Q agreed to form the coalition government with the PPP in the center, headed by the PPP’s prime minister.
“The two parties also agreed to cooperate in the next elections, which will be held in accordance with the constitution,” Babar elaborated. The two parties also rejected any change in the government except through the mechanism of free, fair and transparent elections, as laid down in the constitution. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk