Muslim League-Q leader, Ch.Pervez Elahi talks with media after condolence with Mian Zahoor-ul-Haq father of former District Nazim Mian Amir Mehmood, on death of his wife in Lahore on Thursday, April 28, 2011.
ISLAMABAD: Top leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, met President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency on Thursday and reportedly finalised details of a plan for the Q-League to join the ruling coalition.
The meeting took place after a dinner hosted by the president and lasted about two hours.
The meeting took place after a dinner hosted by the president and lasted about two hours.
When contacted, president`s spokesman Farhatullah Babar declined to confirm reports doing the rounds in the capital that the two sides had thrashed out plans for what sources in both the parties described as a `national reconciliation government.`
The Q-League earlier said a roadmap had been worked out under which the Q-League and Muttahida Qaumi Movement would initially join the government and, at a later stage, another estranged PPP ally, the JUI-F, would join the coalition.
He said the two sides had agreed on the draft of a plan presented by the Q-League for reviving the crippling economy, improving law and order, tiding over the energy crisis and bringing the rising prices of essential goods under control. An agreement based on the plan is likely to be signed in a meeting of the two parties expected to be held at the Presidency next week.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani did not attend the meeting and there are reports that he is not pleased with the understanding between the two parties.
Sources in the PPP said that the prime minister had not been invited to three previous meetings between President Zardari and the Q-League leadership.
A close aide to President Asif Zardari told Dawn on condition of anonymity the President was hopeful that the two parties would form an alliance soon.
Sources in the PPP said that under the draft agreement, the two parties would work out a seat adjustment accord for the next general elections, Senate polls to be held in 2012 and the Punjab provincial assembly elections.
It has been agreed that sitting MNAs of the PPP and the Q-League would be given tickets from their respective constituencies.
A different formula will be prepared for the Punjab assembly elections. In a constituency where an NA seat is held by the PPP, the provincial assembly seat in the constituency will be given to PML-Q and vice versa. Before meeting the President, the Q-League leadership held a party meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat in the chair. Despite reservations expressed by one or two leaders, the majority gave a mandate to the party chief to take a decision about an alliance with the PPP.
The PPP core committee and parliamentary committee met last week had agreed to the alliance and authorized President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani to work out a deal with PML-Q.
The PPP requires PML-Q`s support for a comprehensive majority in parliament.