KARACHI, Dec 3: With the return of Muttahida Qaumi Movement to the treasury benches, chances of an early convening of the hijacked Sindh Assembly session have brightened.
It, however, appears that the MQM’s change of mind has pushed back Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, once again, from the power corridors as would-be coalition partners form a simple majority in the House of 163 members. Such a coalition may join together the MQM (41), PML-Q (15), NA (14) PML-F (13) and Independents (2).
Besides, the new development is also going to cost Dr Arbab Rahim his candidature for the top slot which has already been made controversial by the Sindh chief of PML-Q, Ghous Bux Maher. Mr Maher, who is also the Federal Minister for Railway, had clearly stated after the postponement of the assembly’s inaugural session that he would not support Arbab Ghulam Rahim, originally portrayed as the GNA’s consensus candidate, for the top slot. After accomplishing the task of getting the assembly session postponed, Dr Arbab rushed to Islamabad and since then he has been moving in the power corridors making hectic efforts to assert his capabilities as a worthy chief minister for Sindh.
He is seen trying to convince the power players that he is the man who can deliver. How far he has succeeded in restoring their faith in him could only be gauged when the central leadership of the PML-Q would land in the metropolis sometime over the next 48 hours. The main objective of the party’s central leaders is to win the support of Pir Pagara, chief of the PML-F without which their which to form a coalition in Sindh would remain a dream.
In the given situation, Dr Arbab cannot gain a simple majority for himself until and unless Pir Pagara backed him.
Circles close to Pir Pagara have indicated that Pir Pagara would be the last man to endorse Dr Arbab’s nomination as the former has been opposing his candidature from the day one. So much so, the Pir has gone to the extent of supporting Syed Sardar Ahmad of the MQM and Nisar Ahmad Khuhro of PPP Parliamentarians for the top slot.
As a matter of fact, Pir Pagara’s support to any coalition in Sindh is a must and his stubborn attitude has prompted the power brokers in the province to introduce their own favourites for the office of the chief minister. In this regard, Jam Madad Ali of NPP, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah and Sadruddin Shah Rashdi of PML-F and Ali Muhammad Maher of PML-Q and Syed Sardar Ahmad of MQM have already been named.
The chief of National Peoples Party, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, who is also President of National Alliance, appeared not inclined to extend support to Ali Muhammad Maher in view of the ongoing tribal animosity between Mahers and Jatois in Sindh which has cost many precious lives in recent clashes.
Among the PPP aspirants, Nisar Khuhro still retains full support from within his party and allies making him a strong contender though the party is yet to announce his candidature for the post. The PPP has 67 members in the House and expects support of MMA’s 10 members and if Pir Pagara comes out with his group’s support, it can muster another 13 votes of his PML-F.
Political circles indicated that Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman, son of the PPP Parliamentarians’ chief Makhdoom Amin Faheem, briefly emerged as one of the candidates for the top slot but his name is now been scrapped from the list.
