LAHORE, Nov 13: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has agreed to give 40 per cent share to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a junior partner in the alliance ruling Punjab, in all matters of governance, while the latter has assured the former that all matters between the two parties will be settled mutually, without engaging Governor Salmaan Taseer.

The power sharing formula was finalised at a meeting of the coordination committee consisting of provincial representatives of both the parties here on Thursday.

Chaired by senior adviser to chief minister Zulfiqar Khosa (PML-N) and attended by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan (PML-N), Senior Minister Raja Riaz (PPP) and Finance Minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, the meeting decided to raise the strength of the cabinet from 15 to 35 after Eidul Azha.

Khosa, who is also PML-N Punjab president, told the media that negotiations between the two parties on the power-sharing formula succeeded, and it was decided that PML-N would have 22 and PPP 13 slots in the provincial cabinet. He said a similar number of offices of parliamentary secretaries would be divided between the two parties.

About the chairmanships of 46 standing committees of the Punjab Assembly, he said 19 would go to PPP. He said the meeting decided the governor would neither interfere in the provincial government’s affairs nor issue any statement against the government.

Sanaullah said both sides agreed that unsettled issues between the two partners would be resolved through Raja Riaz and that they would not destabilise each other’s governments. The new ministers, the law minister said, would take oath of their offices after Eid.

Separately, 10th session of the Punjab Assembly has been requisitioned for Friday (today), as Governor Salmaan Taseer has approved the summary.

The session, which is likely to continue for about two weeks, is set to give approval for the much awaited standing committees.

The government is likely to table an ordinance to reintroduce the commissioners system in the province on the first day of the session.