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| December 24, 2002 | Tuesday | Shawwal 19, 1423 |
PM confident of securing vote of confidence
ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali is confident of securing vote of confidence on Dec 30, sources told Dawn on Monday.
The idea of taking along the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has been given up for the time being after the prime minister’s meeting with Qazi Hussain Ahmed, as the Jamaat-i-Islami chief refused to change stance on extending support.
To ensure Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s support at the time of vote of confidence, appointment of its nominee Dr Ishratul Ibad for the office of Sindh governor has also been delayed, the sources said, adding that the MQM had been reassured by the responsible quarters of fulfilment of agreement on appointment on Monday.
The sources said that the confidence of the prime minister could be judged from the fact that he had given a go-ahead to his programme of visiting Ashkabad on Dec 26 and 27.
The prime minister will be leaving for Saudi Arabia to perform Umra on Dec 31 and will return on Jan 1, official sources said.
The parliamentary party meeting of the ruling coalition has been summoned on Dec 29 to assess the situation and to prepare a final list of Jamali’s supporters, the sources said.
Jamali, it may be mentioned, held a detailed meeting with MMA vice-president Qazi Hussain Ahmed in Lahore on Dec 21 to seek the alliance’s support. However, he failed to win the MMA’s support.
PML-Q parliamentary party leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi also held a meeting with Qazi Hussain a day before, but they too failed to persuade the MMA leader.
Political strategists including some high profile Establishment officials have been given a task of mustering support for the prime minister.
During the last couple of days the prime minister held various meetings with allies in Lahore and Gujranwala to muster the support of required number of legislators, the sources said and added that the government camp was confident of securing more than 180 votes in the final count on
Dec 30.
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