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| June 15, 2005 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 7, 1426 |
Senator acts to end Quetta PML row
QUETTA, June 14: The central leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) has intervened to resolve the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Jam Yousuf and some of PML’s parliamentary party ministers and MPAs over distribution of development funds. On behalf of the PML central leadership, Senator Saeed Ahmad Hashmi, took up the role of trouble-shooter and had a marathon meeting with the chief minister after listening to the complaints of the PML group’s ministers and lawmakers.
The meeting was held at the residence of Sardar Bakhtiar Khan Domki, the provincial minister for forests.
Senator Hashmi told reporters on Monday that he had discussed with the chief minister the whole situation arising from the stand of the angry members. He said that the chief minister had given him a patient hearing and “seemed to have realised the grievances of the PML group”.
Senator Hashmi disclosed that the chief minister wanted to reach a compromise formula with the disgruntled members of his party. He said that in the best interests of the government, a solution would be found to all issues and the government would probably take appropriate action in this regard.
The chief minister assured the senator that he would convene a parliamentary party meeting and discuss all issues with the disgruntled members. According to the senator, Mr Yousaf would see that there was equitable distribution in the development schemes in the provincial PSDP during the next financial year.
Senator Hashmi said that Mr Yousaf also promised to give equal importance to the parliamentary party members in decision-making and government affairs.
He said he had tried to act as a bridge between the chief minister and the PML provincial ministers and MPAs and expressed hope that the differences between the two would be resolved amicably.
Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, a spokesman for the PML parliamentary party ministers and MPAs, said that Senator Hashmi had started his efforts on the instruction of the central party leadership.
Mr Mandokhail expressed satisfaction with Senator Hashmi’s assurances about the outcome of his meeting with the chief minister. He reiterated that the group wanted to restore the party’s status as a major coalition partner and said its members only desired an equal share in decision-making, services and development schemes.
He made it clear that the parliamentary party members would not accept any thing short of a guarantee from the chief minister about implementing the assurances he had given them.
He said that the chief minister had to take care of all coalition partners, and the parliamentary party members were there to see to the interests of the party and its members.
Asked about the group’s alleged threat to evolve a joint strategy with opposition parties against the upcoming budget in Balochistan, Mr Mandokhail said that the PML(Q) parliamentary party had a close relationship with the opposition in accordance with parliamentary and democratic traditions.
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