PTI successfully woos PML-Q back as talks conclude

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday managed to successfully woo back its coalition partner, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PMl_Q), as talks between the two concluded.

The success came after a negotiating team of Prime Minister Imran Khan's administration met the PML-Q's delegation at the Punjab House earlier in the day, sources had informed Geo News. Had the demands not been met, the coalition partner had warned of "explosive" consequences. 

The first of the PML-Q's demands was complete authority in running its ministries, with the party saying it would not put up with any hindrances. It also asked the government to ensure the development funds were released on an immediate basis.

The coalition party further demanded the government stop saying Moonis Elahi was asking for a federal ministry. It conveyed the Chaudhry brothers' message that such propaganda — suggesting a ministry was being demanded from the centre — should be stopped.

A week to comply

Earlier, sources had told Geo News that the PML-Q leadership put forward two demands and gave the government a deadline of one week to comply.

The PML-Q's Tariq Bashir Cheema had reiterated his party's demand that the developments funds be disbursed to them to continue work in their constituencies.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and senior provincial bureaucrats were also part of the meeting.

On the other hand, PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen noted that the government had no fear of anyone and that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had only left a ministry, not the incumbent administration.

There were talks with the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Tareen added, stressing that the government would resolve the coalition partners' reservations.

Separately, CM Buzdar in a notification said the government would take the PML-Q alongside for the public's growth and prosperity and that conspiracies to birth misunderstandings would never work.