April 18, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1429

QUETTA, April 17: Coalition partners in Balochistan have failed to resolve differences over distribution of ministries and a group of seven independent members of the provincial assembly has opposed inclusion of ministers of the Jam Yusuf government in the new cabinet.

A PPP team comprising federal Minister Syed Khurshid Shah and MNA Ejaz Jhakrani, which came here to help the provincial party leadership in working out a compromise with the independent group, the BNP-A and some members of PML-Q, left for Islamabad on Thursday.

The independent group led by Sardar Aslam Bizenjo is against the inclusion of ministers of the Jam Yusuf government in the new set-up, alleging that they were involved in corruption and the military operation in Balochistan.

Sources said that Sardar Aslam and other members of the independent group had declined to join the coalition cabinet if it included former ministers and offered to support the PPP-led government without being a part of it.

Other sources, however, said that differences actually centred on allocation of some important ministries and the independent group was demanding the ministries already given to the BNP-A and the PML-Q.

Sardar Bizenjo said that negotiations were continuing and the issue would be resolved by Friday.

Talking to newsmen before leaving Quetta, Syed Khursheed Shah denied reports about differences over portfolios and said that ministries had been allocated in accordance with a formula worked out by the coalition parties.

Replying to a question, he said his party believed in provincial autonomy and wanted a strong provincial government.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the JUI-F, which was in the government headed by Jam Yousaf, has again succeeded in bagging some important ministries.

Under a power-sharing formula, the JUI-F will get six ministries, including planning and development, health, Balochistan Development Authority, forestry, labour and manpower, and the post of deputy speaker.

The sources said that Maulana Abdul Wasey would get the ministry of planning and development and newly elected legislator Ainullah Shams would be the new health minister.