By IANS,
Islamabad : Shaken by indications that the US could engineer a change in dispensation, Pakistan’s ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) says it is ready to sup with two opposition groupings to form a government of national unity.
The principal opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and the erstwhile ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) “can be included in the federal government”, The News Wednesday quoted PPP leader Nabil Gabol as saying.
This would help “find a lasting solution to the multiple challenges the country is facing on internal and external fronts”, Gabol, the minister for ports and shipping and a confidant of President Asif Ali Zardari, added.
“We firmly believe that the PML-N’s joining the government will increase its standing both within and outside the country. And we will get more strength if the PML-Q is also a part of the government,” Gabol contended.
Analysts here said this could be wishful thinking because the PML-N, which was once part of the ruling coalition but walked out after differences emerged over implementing the governance agenda, has firmly ruled out returning to the government.
Besides, the entry of the PML-N and the PML-Q could trigger fresh tensions between them and the three other ruling alliance partners – the Awami National Party, the Muttahida Quami Movement and a breakaway group of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI).
Gabol was highly critical of the alliance partners, saying they were enjoying the fruits of power without contributing anything in return.
“Our partners enjoy the ruling status of the highest scale but do not extend their all-out support to our party on sensitive issues, which require immediate solution. Instead, they are keeping these on the back-burner,” Gabol maintained.
He also ruled out the possibility of mid-term elections despite US statements on a change of the government as the present dispensation was “fragile”, a term that US President Barack Obama has used.
“All those looking for mid-term polls are living in a fool’s paradise and should come out of their dreams and join hands with the PPP government, if they are really sincere with the country and its people,” Gabol maintained.
“The political leadership must understand that there is no option except for a smooth sailing of the sitting government as the people of Pakistan want the mandated party to rule the country for five years,” he added.