October 22, 2003	Wednesday	Sha’aban 25, 1424

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PESHAWAR, Oct 21: Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Tuesday said he did not rule out the possibility of a no-confidence motion against the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government in the NWFP.

“You can never rule out the possibility of a no confidence motion against the sitting (provincial) government. This is part of the constitutional check and balance,” he said during an informal chat with journalists at his residence. He was accompanied by his son MPA Sikandar Sherpao.

The PPP-S chairman denied he or his party had anything to do with the widely-speculated no-confidence move against NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani.

“But if they (MMA leaders) are accusing us, believing we (he himself or his party) are behind it (the move), so be it. Then we are at liberty to make efforts (in this regards),” he remarked.

Mr Sherpao cautioned against levelling allegations in this regard, saying it would complicate matters, adding that the MMA government itself was creating problems by its deeds, alienating its supporting legislators and allies.

The situation, he said, betrayed the extent of antagonism among its ranks.

He said that the PPP-S believed in democracy and would always respect the will of the majority, adding that the party strived for the smooth running of the province and it would do “whatever is required in the larger interest of the province.”

Mr Sherpao remarked: “Timing is of utmost importance in politics and (as soon as) the opposition has the required number (of legislators supporting its move), they must not hesitate to table the no-confidence motion,” he said.

Dismissing the notion that the MMA government, if dismissed in such a manner would extract political mileage out of its dismissal, he said if the successor government performed well, it (the MMA) would not be able to cash in on its dismissal.

Referring to a statement attributed to the chief minister in which he had cautioned against using the Governor’s House to hatch conspiracies, Mr Sherpao said that the NWFP governor, being the constitutional head of the province had every right to meet anyone he pleased.

Mr Sherpao said that he had met with the chief minister about matters pertaining to payment of Wapda dues to Fata.

The MMA, he said, always suffered from internal contradictions, which were only now coming to the fore, adding that the gap between its component parties was widening.

“Only Qazi Hussain Ahmad (of the Jamaat-i-Islami) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman (of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam) are interested in keeping the MMA intact largely because any split would (negatively) influence their politics.”

Mr Sherpao, while dismissing accusation levelled against himself, said: “Why are they so scared if they claim their government is strong ...”

He said that he did not foresee early elections, remarking: “I think, hopefully, assemblies would complete their tenures.”

Referring to the reports suggesting the possibility of a merger between the PPP-S and the PPP-Patriots, Mr Sherpao said there might be some positive results in this regard as discussions had already been held.