Thinking of new political alignments, power circles in Islamabad are engaged in fresh calculations to provide two-thirds majority for the government by cobbling together a PPP and PML-Q alliance.
“The PPP and the PML-Q, minus the PML-N but including others, guarantee two-thirds majority not only in the National Assembly but also in the Senate,” a key Q Leaguer said while talking to The News here on Friday.
The PML-Q leader, constantly in contact with the presidency, also revealed that President Pervez Musharraf was ready to back the PPP either by extending the Q-Leagueís support in the form of forward blocs or through some other face-saving arrangements.
The PML-Q has been temporarily saved from disintegration as its break-up would neither serve President Musharraf nor the PPP government, the sources within the PML-Q said. With differences cropping up between the PPP and the PML-N on the judges issue followed by the new controversy over governor Punjab’s appointment, almost all other parliamentary parties both in the National Assembly and the Senate would stand by the government, the source said.
“Our main purpose is to keep the PML-N out of power and support the PPP both at the Centre and the Punjab province one way or the other,” the Q-League leader said while quoting President Pervez Musharraf. “Musharraf is feeling relaxed and easy since the rift in the PML-N and the PPP has emerged.”
The PPP’s strength in the National Assembly stands at 121, the PML-Q has 54 MNAs, the MQM 25, the MMA six, the PML-F five members and there are 18 independent members at present. The PPP-Sherpao, the NPP and the BNP are one-man parties in the lower house of parliament.
“All these parties make a total of 245 against 228 required for two-thirds majority, thus leaving a considerable margin of 17. If the Chaudhrys and some other individuals hesitate to openly support the PPP-led government, the numbers would still be manageable.î
At present, there are 336 MNAs in the 342-member house as elections on six seats are yet to be held during the by-polls at the end of the next month. The Nawaz League is the second largest party in the National Assembly with 91 sitting MNAs. “This is the time to bring together all anti-Nawaz forces,” the Q-League leader said.
“As far as the Senate is concerned, the PPP, the PML-Q being the largest party and other allies of the government are in a comfortable position to gain a two-thirds majority,” the sources said. “The Q-League’s position in the Senate is extremely important for the two-thirds majority when the judgesí issue is to be resolved through a constitutional amendment.”
In Senate, the vote of 67 sitting members is required for the two-thirds majority as the PML-Q, having 36 senators and the JUI-F with 16, along with MQM, PPP and other government partners fulfill the purpose comfortably. The Nawaz League has just four senators.
“Chaudhry Shujaat, if forcibly removed from the post of the PML president, would have the support of at least one dozen MNAs,” the source said. “This may be the reason why Chaudhry Shujaat cannot be left out as if he separates, he could deprive the PPP-PML-Q coalition of the two thirds majority in the Senate.”
Any of the two major parties in the Punjab can form a joint government as the PPP and the PML-N make a total of 270, more than two-thirds, and the PPP and the PML-Q jointly numbers 192 against the requirement of 186 members to form a set up.
According to numbers, the PPP has total strength of 106 whereas the Q-League Members of Provincial Assembly of Punjab are 86, thus, making a total of 192, enough to achieve majority in the house. Two MMA members, four PML-F and two independents, collectively having the strength of eight, would prefer to be a part of the government in case of realignment in the province.
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