Gilani seeks support from opposition

Gilani meets Shahbaz Sharif and calls on Chaudhry Shujaat in a frantic effort to make new allies. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:?Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani met with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday in what analysts describe as a desperate bid to shore up support and make new allies following the MQM’s announcement of its defection to the opposition benches in the Senate and the National Assembly, which has stripped the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of its already slender majority in the parliament.

Gilani telephoned Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain early Monday morning seeking his support following the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM’s) decision to sit on the opposition benches. Gilani is expected to meet the PML-Q leader later today.

The ruling PPP has 125 members in the National Assembly, 47 short of simple majority to keep the government in office. It has support from Awami National Party (ANP) with 13 lawmakers, five from the Pir Pagara-led Functional League and around 17 independent members. The PPP?needs at least 12 seats to survive and the prime minister is expected to talk about the possible alliance between PPP and?PML-Q in today’s meeting.

Gilani faces an imminent no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, forcing the PPP to look for new allies. According to an earlier report in The Express Tribune, the PML-Q, which is the second largest opposition group with 51 seats in the National Assembly, said it will not move the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Gilani.

Express 24/7 reported that Shujaat said they will?listen to Gilani?and then consult other party leaders before reaching a conclusion.

PML-Q, JUI-F hold meeting in Lahore

Meanwhile, PML-Q and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) held a meeting in Lahore to discuss their future course of action. Addressing a press conference after the meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Gilani saying that it was better for him to resign with all his cabinet.

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JUI-F to sit on opposition benches

The party chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, submitted the application for the allotment of opposition benches. PHOTO: EPA/FILE

ISLAMABAD:?Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Monday formally submitted an application in the speaker’s office to allow its members to sit on opposition benches in the National Assembly.

Three members of the JUI-F including Maulana Qasim, Haji Rozudin and Maulana Abdul Malik sat on treasury benches during the national assembly session. The party chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, later submitted the application for the allotment of opposition benches.

Speaking to the media outside parliament, Rehman said that two parliamentary secretaries from JUI-F, Aasia Nasir and Mufti Ajmal Khan Khattak, would also be resigning.

The JUI-F had quit the coalition on December 14 following Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s orders to sack Senator Azam Swati, the wealthiest member of the JUI-F. Swati was embroiled in a public war of words with Religious Minister Hamid Kazmi, who is faced with allegations of?corruption in Hajj arrangements. Kazmi was also sacked along with Swati.

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