KARACHI, Dec 9: Focus of politics shifted to Sindh on Monday amid visible signs of differences within the Grand National Alliance over the top slot. The PML-Q leader, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, flew into the metropolis to resolve the controversy as Muttahida Qaumi Movement continued to toughen its stand on the question of chief ministership.

At the same time, leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, People’s Party Parliamentarians and the National Alliance converged at the residence of Zia Abbas and publicly spoke on the current issues, giving rise to the speculations about the emerging countervailing force in Sindh which could provide a stable government.

Talking to newsmen on his arrival, Chaudhry Shujaat said that his visit was aimed at arriving at a consensus, though every member of the assembly had the right to aspire for the top slot.

When asked about the MQM’s claim on the top slot, he said he believed that his party also had equally fair claim over the chief ministership. He, however, emphasized the need for a consensus, which was indicative of some reservations on the MQM’s stand.

Replying to a question about PPP’s right to form a government in Sindh on the basis of its having emerged as the largest single party in the assembly, Chaudhry Shujaat said: “We have said that they should form the government but it seems they are not willing to do so. If that is so, then I ask them not to create obstacles and sit in the opposition. We will give them the same protocol as we have given to them at the Centre.”

The PML-Q leader will hold a meeting with party leaders on Tuesday besides exchanging views with Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and MQM leaders.

If he fails to convince the MQM leadership on the top slot, there is a possibility of further strains on the GNA components to take their own decisions, according to ground realities and also owing to reservations expressed by Pir Pagara over the candidature of Arbab Rahim.

Replying to a question, Chaudhry Shujaat said that it was not important that the chief minister of Sindh should be either a Sindhi or Urdu speaking. “He may belong to anywhere, but should be a true Pakistani,” the PML-Q chief remarked.

Meanwhile, the MMA chief, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, has criticized the Establishment for trying to impose a government of its own choice and said the largest party in the house should be asked to form the government first. He said that if the largest party failed to do so, only then the second biggest party or group could be given a chance to form a government. In case, he added, all such efforts failed, then verdict of the people should be sought again.

Maulana Noorani pointed out that the MMA was continuing its efforts for the formation of a government in the province and said that there should be no more delay in the convening of the session.

“Such a mistake should not be repeated in future as it was fraught with dangerous consequences,” he warned.

Asked whether the MMA had decided to support PPP or any other party in the province, Maulana Noorani said that the alliance was examining all options and passing through the stage of taking decisions. He was evasive when asked to categorically state on whose side the MMA was in Sindh. His main emphasis was on the continuation of democratic dispensation.

The MMA leader said that in its meeting on Dec 17, the alliance would examine its efforts with regard to the LFO, particularly the article 58(2) (b), National Security Council, and mode of electing a President without uniform.

The parliamentary leader of the MMA in Sindh also spelt out the conditions which the alliance has put forward for cooperation with others in the province.

Mr Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, chief of the National Peoples Party and the National Alliance, while responding to a questioner remarked: “Why should we support an MQM candidate for the top slot when we have our own candidate?”

He said that as far as he was concerned, Arbab Rahim was the consensus candidate of the GNA for the top slot in Sindh. There was no change in the position. He made it clear that if Arbab Rahim himself decided to withdraw, then the GNA leadership would consider any alternative candidate.

Mr Jatoi indicated that as of now, none of the major groups was in a position to form a government on its own. He said that PPP also would need support of two groups whereas the MQM would require three allies.

He ruled out the possibility of a split in the GNA but when his attention was drawn to Chaudhry Shujaat’s statement on his arrival at Karachi on Monday, Mr Jatoi recalled that National Alliance had been given a commitment that its candidate in Sindh would be supported.

“If he (Shujaat) has said so and gone back on the words, then nobody can stop us from taking our own decisions,” he declared referring to the NA’s strength in the House.

Nisar Khuhro, the PPP’s provincial parliamentary leader, told reporters that it was very important that the assembly session should be held as per schedule so that members could take oath and elect their speaker, deputy speaker and cheif minister as per the Constitution and rules.

He said that the members should be free to take decisions according to the mandate given to them by the people. He observed that rule pertaining to the show of strength in the House was very clear.

He also ruled out the possibility of a forward bloc being emerged in Sindh.

Mr Khuhro said that during the meeting, held at his residence, a future course of action was considered in view of the Establishment’s extra-constitutional and unconstitutional methods.