kind of problems encountered during their brief alliance after the May 2015 general election, the QWP this time has reportedly drafted a 12-point agreement seeking ‘iron-clad guarantees’ before joining the PTI-led provincial government. The QWP has proposed establishment of a liaison committee having two members each from QWP and PTI to oversee their alliance and, in case of impasse, refer the matter to the two party chiefs for resolution. The QWP would also like the PTI to take it into confidence on national issues outside KP. The QWP has expressed its intention for a long-term alliance with PTI beyond the present term of the assemblies.
Some of the other points in the draft agreement are reiteration of the QWP manifesto. Other points include a comprehensive reconstruction and rehabilitation package for the areas in KP and Fata affected by terrorism, setting up a trust fund for victims of terrorist attacks, making revenue from energy the part of calculation for formulating NFC award, uncapping the annual share of KP from hydel-generation projects sited in the province and pushing the federal government to pay KP its arrears, focusing on improving the law and order situation in KP and properly presenting KP’s case to the centre in getting its rights with regard to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The QWP provincial president Sikandar Hayat Sherpao is certain to return to the cabinet as the senior minister even though he had reportedly offered in a party meeting to stay out of it. The chief minister would also be keen to have him by his side in the cabinet to make sure the Sherpao family is on board. It is possible Sikandar Sherpao is handed over the same portfolios – irrigation and power -, that he had before quitting the cabinet in protest against the sacking of his two fellow ministers.
However, the QWP is unlikely to propose its previous ministers, Bakht Baidar Khan and Ibrar Hussain, who looked after labour and environment, respectively, to become cabinet members again. The two would certainly want to be re-inducted into the cabinet to clear their names, but the QWP knows this would risk starting the new relationship with the PTI on a negative note.
The QWP is expected to nominate Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, a long time loyalist of the Sherpao family, and Abdul Karim, a first-timer lawmaker from Swabi, for inclusion in the cabinet. Tahirkheli is well-qualified to become a minister after having already served as a minister of state and Senator in the past. Her inclusion in the all-male provincial cabinet would at least give some representation to the women in the government.
Abdul Karim’s family has also been close to the Sherpaos. His father Abdul Raziq Khan was an MPA. His uncle Abdul Malik, a lawyer by profession, was the QWP’s losing candidate in the Senate elections. The family has solid vote-bank in their provincial assembly constituency in Swabi.
Abdul Karim won admiration of the party leadership when he resisted tempting offers to sell his vote during the Senate elections held some months ago. The QWP had failed to win any seat in the Senate polls despite having 10 MPAs because at least three of its members had allegedly sold their votes in return for money. The party subsequently issued show-cause notices to three of its MPAs – Bakht Baidar from Lower Dir distrct, Sultan Mohammad Khan from Charsadda and Gohar Nawaz Khan of Haripur -, as they were suspected of violating party discipline in the Senate polls. Bakht Baidar and Ibrar Hussain had denied the allegation and replied to the show-cause notices issued to them.
In the case of Gohar Nawaz, the QWP was helpless as he was elected as an independent and had later joined the party. It was difficult to force him to accept the party discipline. It also needs mentioning that Gohar Nawaz’s nephew Babar Nawaz Khan is contesting the re-election for the National Assembly seat NA-19 Haripur as the PML-N candidate.
In the end though, no action in context of the Senate vote was taken by the QWP leadership against any of its suspect MPAs. However, they were asked to hand over their resignation as MPA to the party in case they are accused of violating its discipline again.