PP-led coalition will survive even without PML-N: Paper

Islamabad, May 12 : Since PML-N's only condition of joining the PPP-led government in Pakistan (of restoration of deposed judiciary to pre-Nov 3 days) is not fulfilled, the party seems all set to move out of the government, but it won't affect the stability of the PPP-led federal government, said an article in The News.

It said that the PPP will remain comfortably in power even if the PML-N decides to quit the ruling coalition on the issue of the reinstatement of judges.

PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif said in London that his party would chalk out its "future course of action" next week, if the seething differences with the PPP over the reinstatement of the judges remained insurmountable.

In case the PML-N bids adieu to the government, the PPP would still enjoy power with the backing of the Awami National Party, the JUI (Fazl) and the Fata MNAs, the article said and added that these coalition partners, though having a limited numerical strength, are capable of keeping the ruling coalition minus the PML-N intact with the most crucial support of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

The PPP has 121 MNAs, the MQM, which has been given representation in the Sindh government recently, has 25 MNAs, the ANP 13, Fata independents have 10 MNAs and the JUI-F 6 MNAs in the 342-member house. Hence, the tally of MNAs on the treasury side comes to 175.

According to the article, there are also possibilities of the former ruling PML-Q joining the PPP-led coalition in addition to the MQM's inclusion in it in due course. There was every possibility of their joining the government after the removal of some "ifs" and "buts", it quoted a senior PML-Q leader as saying.

Reports are galore that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was interested in having the PML-Q on his side, but only after the removal of Ch Shujaat Hussain as its president.

ANI