PESHAWAR: The March 6 accord between the PPP, the NAP and the JUI in effect stands broken, but the PPP has offered fresh basis for further negotiations on a six-point proposal. The an­­nouncement that the tripartite accord no lon­ger existed was made by the Education Minister, Mr Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, after a 20-minute second round of talks between the leaders of the three parties ended without any agreement tonight [April 8]. The first round held in the morning had lasted about two hours. Under the fresh basis for negotiations, the People’s Party accepted the NAP-JUI contention that the latter will not have to give a vote of confidence in the Government. The People’s Party also accepted the NAP-JUI stand that they may abstain or vote against the proposal to continue Martial Law till Aug 14.

On the question of the appointment of Governors of the provinces of the NWFP and Baluchistan, the PPP’s new stand was that they would be appointed by the President and shall hold office during his pleasure, but they will be appointed from outside political parties and “will be men of public standing”. The Governors, as earlier agreed, will cease to be Martial Law Administrators. The PPP also offered one seat each to the NAP and JUI in the Central Cabinet. — Staff correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Peshawar,] the PPP and PML (Qayyum group) have formed a coalition party in NWFP Assembly, Khan Abdul Wali Khan announced after a joint meeting of MNAs and MPAs of both the parties at the Governor’s House.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2022