ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: Minister for Information, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, said here on Saturday that the majority party in Sindh should have the right to form government.

“We do not want chaos and uncertainty and, that is why I believe that the majority party in Sindh should be allowed to form government there,” he added.

Talking to reporters at his Iftar party here he said that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali would have more support in the House despite MQM’s withdrawal of its support to him. “When the time comes for the PM to take the vote of confidence, we would prove it,” he claimed.

The minister said that reconciliation with the PPP was a possibility, provided Benazir Bhutto gave up what he termed “excessive demands”.

When asked about the nature of Ms Bhutto’s demands he said she wanted Asif Zardari released and removal of cases etc. These are not issues which can be instantly settled by the new government. He claimed that the PPP was constantly in touch with the rulers.

Responding to a question, Sheikh Rashid said that the PM needed the support of a large group to continue in power. “And hopefully we will get that cooperation from the MMA,” he claimed.

To another question he said President Pervez Musharraf could take off his military uniform if internal and external circumstances improved.

He agreed that the MQM was annoyed with the government but then hastened to say: “We will remove their grievances and this is how we can win their hearts and minds.”

The minister denied any forward bloc was being created in the ruling PML-Q by saying: “This could be somebody’s desire but it can never be a news item.”

He also brushed aside rumours of differences between the leaders of the PML-Q and Mian Azhar.

When asked who was the real ruler in the country he said the President and PM were in charge.

“When some becomes PM, he should be patient and should not try to become a powerful chief executive instantly,” he said Nawaz Sharif was a case in point.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

THE FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth ...
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...