PESHAWAR: There is a degree of uncertainty over whether the Qaumi Watan Party will rejoin the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Contrary to all expectations that QWP would become part of the PTI-led ruling coalition in the province yet again soon after Eidul Fitr, Aftab Sherpao and Imran Khan’s parties have yet to formally sign a power-sharing agreement.

The delay in this respect is causing speculations about the possible accord.

Though the PTI leaders have already made it public that the QWP will soon join the coalition government, a recent statement of the ruling party, Imran Khan, has raised doubts about the matter.

During a visit to the flood-hit Chitral district, the PTI chief had denied having ‘any information’ about the QWP rejoining the provincial government.

Some observers feel the PTI-QWP alliance seems to be difficult in light of Imran Khan’s adverse remarks.

Reacting to the PTI chief’s statement, QWP senior vice president and former provincial minister Bakht Baidar Khan said his party didn’t approach the PTI for rejoining the government.

“It’s the PTI, which had offered us (QWP) to become part of its government again. We’d never asked for it,” he said.

The QWP leader said his party would continue serving the people whether it was in government or in opposition.

He said his defamation case against Imran Khan over corruption charge was in the court.

“My sacking as the provincial minister on corruption charge was illegal,” he said.

However, QWP general secretary Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli is optimistic about the QWP chances of rejoining the provincial government.

“I’m hopeful about a positive response from the PTI leadership on our 12-point draft. Currently, we’re waiting for the response,” she said.

Anisa Zeb said the central leadership of the two parties was to decide about the matter and that it would take time for ‘decision on solid grounds’.

She said no one from the PTI had formally conveyed a ‘negative message’ to the QWP.

The QWP leader said her party had completed work on the possible coalition with the PTI and therefore, it was the turn of the PTI to respond to it.

The QWP had sent its 12-point draft to the central PTI leadership after approval from Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.

According to reliable insiders, the QWP will get two portfolios, one of home and the other of irrigation, after rejoining the ruling coalition.

They say the possible ministers of the party will be Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao and Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2015

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