April 11, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 4, 1429

KARACHI, April 10: A deadlock between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement ended on Thursday after the resumption of talks aimed at striking a power-sharing deal.

Well-placed sources told Dawn that Rehman Malik, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s point man, was instrumental in the resumption of the dialogue process and was not only in touch with the MQM leadership in London, but had also held meetings with the party’s representatives here.

Mr Malik, who holds the portfolio of adviser to the prime minister on interior, discussed with MQM’s Senator Babar Ghauri issues relating to law and order in the city, ending the Sindh Assembly boycott and power sharing in Sindh as well as at the centre.

A TV report said 13 ministers — all belonging to PPP — would take the oath of office at 3pm on Friday at the Governor’s House. Sources said MQM ministers would not be sworn in on Friday.

They said a major sticking point between the PPP and MQM was the ministry of labour, which was headed by MQM’s Adil Siddiqui in the Arbab Rahim-led cabinet.

According to insiders, the PPP was not willing to let go of this portfolio. It was also keen on having its own nominees in charge of home affairs and finance.

The sources added that as the MQM itself had not finalised names for the cabinet, it wanted to put off the swearing-in ceremony till Monday. However, as Qaim Ali Shah, who has already been sworn in as chief minister of Sindh, is without a cabinet, the PPP decided to go ahead with the oath-taking on Friday.

Sources said MQM was likely to get seven ministries in Sindh: planning and development, information technology, sports, health, environment, local bodies and industries. The party held most of these portfolios in the previous government.

They said that as a result of Thursday’s talks, there was a possibility that MQM would end its boycott of assemblies. They said a power-sharing formula had been devised and an announcement would be made in a day or two.

An MQM leader said PPP was desirous of taking MQM on board, attributing the delay in formation of Qaim’s cabinet to the latter’s keenness to include MQM nominees in the cabinet.

He hinted that if things went “in the right direction”, MQM would get two ministries in the federal cabinet too. According to a PPP source, Mr Zardari had consultations with Qaim Ali Shah, Pir Mazharul Haq, PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, and MPA Zulfiqar Mirza, tipped for the slot of home minister, on Thursday.

The source added that MQM would attend a “top secret” meeting at Zardari House late on Thursday night.