ISLAMABAD, April 30: Differences of serious nature are reported to have arisen between Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and his party chief, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, over the growing influence of the Patriots and the National Alliance in the matters of government.
The tirade of the PML(Q) chief against these two components of the ruling alliance at a party dinner here on Monday is being regarded as the first public manifestation of these differences.
Although Chaudhry Shujaat in his speech only advised the prime minister to beware of “such people” who were creating problems for the party, his real target of address was the prime minister himself.
Mr Shujaat in his speech at the dinner had asked Mr Jamali to rein in the coalition’s two main components — PPP Patriots and the National Alliance — who he alleged were trying to sabotage the ongoing dialogue with the combined opposition.
He said he had conveyed his reservations against these two to the PM as the situation could aggravate further if it was not handled properly.
The immediate provocation for Shujaat’s anger is said to be the reservations expressed by the Patriots and the NA against his appointment as the chairman of the 11-member government-opposition committee tasked to draft a bill encompassing the LFO for presentation before parliament for validation.
The Patriots and the NA want the prime minister to head the committee instead, as they reportedly suspect that Chaudhry Shujaat would give in to even the most “unrealistic” demands of the MMA with which they believe he is in secret communication.
These two components of the ruling alliance are said to be opposed to even a discussion on the LFO which they believe has become part of the Constitution and is, therefore, non-negotiable.
Sources said the Patriots were afraid that in case the ruling party succeeded in wooing the MMA to its side the PPP rebels would lose their clout in the coalition and may even be deprived of the prized ministries they were now in charge of.
Sources close to Chaudhry Shujaat disclosed that he had lodged a complaint with President Musharraf against his adversaries in the government.
A party source said the PML president was also receiving complaints about misbehaviour of the ministers belonging to the two parties with his party workers, especially in Punjab.
The party, it may be mentioned, was extremely disturbed after the Patriots took away all the major ministerial portfolios as a price of their support to the coalition government.
The Patriots and the NA leadership has been complaining in their meetings with the president and the PM that their position is being endangered by the growing closeness between Shujaat and the MMA.
Chaudhry Shujaat is not only angry with the allies but also has complaints against the attitude of Prime Minister Jamali, who refused to become subservient to the party commands after assuming power. It had been agreed that the party will always have the upper hand in matters of government, but the arrangement could not be sustained.
