PPP to join federal cabinet in second phase

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will join the federal cabinet in the second phase when the expansion would be carried out and it will happen in late March or April after the election of the president, Senate, Balochistan chief minister and reshuffling of governors.

Well-placed political sources told The News Thursday evening that two rounds of consultations between the committees of the PMLN and PPP have concluded. It is understood that the question of induction of PPP ministers did crop up in the course of discussion to provide strength to the cabinet and more representative face to it.

The sources reminded the necessity of PPP ministers in the cabinet has been felt in the wake of recent political developments where the PTI and its new supporters have shown intention to step up their opposition to the upcoming administration.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari did show his intention of “supporting PMLN government without any share in federal cabinet earlier on.”

Bilawal had said after PPP CEC’s meeting three days ago that the party would support the PMLN in government formation without being part of the federal cabinet. He said the party would be willing to support on issue-to-issue basis and in the case of important votes for the candidate of prime minister, to ensure that a government is formed and political stability is restored.

“The PPP has decided that while we are not in a position to join the federal government ourselves nor will we be interested in taking ministries in such a set-up, we also do not want to see political chaos in the country. We do not want to see perpetual crisis in the country,” he had said.

The PMLN has reminded the PPP that its outside support wouldn’t be sufficient and after new position taken by certain groups, it has become imperative that all likeminded parties will be on board effectively and practically.

They said that the PPP would join the federal cabinet in the second phase of the coalition of six parties namely PML-N, PPP, MQM-Pakistan, PML-Q, IPP and BAP.