September 15, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 14, 1429

LAHORE, Sept 14: Although PPP ministers in the Punjab cabinet have started attending their offices since Saturday, their relations with the PML-N, which heads the coalition government, are strained to the extent that they are said to be not on speaking terms with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

PPP sources said that Senior Minister Raja Riaz refused to accompany the chief minister on a visit to Faisalabad, scheduled for Sunday and as a result the visit was cancelled.

He had been informed on Saturday about the chief minister’s plan, but Raja Riaz said he would not be able to accompany Mr Shahbaz because of prior engagements.

“It’s our party’s decision that we’ll neither meet the chief minister nor attend any of his functions.”

The sources said the PPP ministers would not attend even a cabinet meeting unless the party allowed them to do so.

Raja Riaz said that the chief secretary and the secretary to the Punjab chief minister were creating problems for the PPP ministers.

“Both the officials are unfit for the offices they are holding. They have been posted because of considerations other than merit.”

The senior minister alleged that these officials were against the PPP and were not clearing their development projects or matters concerning postings and transfers. The PPP supporters and workers felt disappointed because they were being treated in a manner as if they belonged to an opposition party, rather than a coalition partner.