KARACHI, Oct 16: President of the PML (Q) Sindh, Ghaus Bux Khan Maher, on Wednesday hinted at electing a consensus parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly within few days.

“We are presently holding talks with the GNA, the MQM and and the MMA to elect a consensus parliamentary party leader”, Ghous Bux Maher told a press conference at his residence on the eve of a luncheon hosted by him in honour of chairman Grand National Alliance, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi.

He pointed out that a 4-member committee comprising Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Ghulam Arbab Rahim and himself had been formed at a meeting of the PML(Q) and the National Alliance held at the residence of Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi.

He said the committee has been authorised to hold parleys with other parties for a consensus leader of the parliamentary party in the Sindh Assembly.

Replying to a question, Maher said that at the provincial level no direct contact had so far been established with the MQM, but it was there at the central level.

To another question, there was no dialogue yet with the PPP.

“If the PPP takes an initiative and decides to support us, then we will certainly hold talks with them as well,” he said and added if the PPP succeeded in forming government in the province, they would accept it and sit in the opposition.

He said the elections were held in a free, fair and transparent manner and refuted the allegation that the PML(Q) was the king’s party, saying had it been so, Mian Azhar would not have lost his seat.

When asked if Sindh governor Mohammedmian Soomro was going to joining the PML (Q), Maher said he would be welcomed if he joined the party Later during the luncheon, chairman National Alliance and NPP president Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, talking to newsmen, said: “We will hopefully form a broad-based government in Sindh with the help of like-minded parties.”

Prominent among those who attended the lunch were Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Irfanullah Khan Marwat, Sultan Khawar, Mahmood Alam Jamote and Muhammad Ali Malkani.—APP/PPI