Fahim rules out splinter group despite friction
By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—PPP Senior Vice President Makhdoom Amin Fahim said Friday that the political chessboard has still been laid. Talking to newsmen In a joint briefing with Jamiatul Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman after meeting between the two leaders, he said the meeting was not a political but a personal one. Referring to meeting with Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali, Fahim he said it was not a scheduled meeting.
Refuting rumours of formation of separate party, PPP Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim on Friday underlined that such rumours are only fuelling fire. No question whatsoever arises of formation of Forward Bloc in PPP, PPP Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim expressed these views during his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Amir Maulana Fazl ur Rehman on Friday in Parliament Lodges.
Host of issues were discussed during the meeting. Following the meeting both Amin Fahim and Maulana Fazl while talking to Journalists said that there are no differences among both parties and matters of common interest have been solved amicably. Amin Fahim said that even now he is a strong contender for Prime Minister Ship stressing if PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari wants to become PM then we will support him thick and thin.
He said that he had positive meeting with Asif Ali Zardari adding that all such rumours of him (Amin Fahim) forming a separate party is concocted. Doors of PPP will never close for me, he held. On the occasion, Amir JUI Maulana Fazl ur Rehman said that it is PPP’s internal matter to nominate a candidate for Prime Minister urging JUI would not interfere.
He was of the view that JUI supports PPP and they have no reservations on whosoever becomes PM from PPP. Replying to a question, Maulana said that we want true democracy to flourish in the country and is ready to work with anyone in this regard. He further added that during his meeting with Amin Fahim, we didn’t discuss any political issue stressing that he considers Amin Fahim as his elder and has very close relations with him since last many years.
PPP, PML-N Advisory committee has forwarded the list of prospective members of federal cabinet to Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif for approval. It was decided that PPP and coalition partners would be given proportionate representation in terms of Number of seats secured by the respective party in parliament. The cabinet will be kept small in size and it will be restricted to number of members ranging between 20 to 25. PPP parliamentary secretary Izhar Amrohi told advisory committee recommendations would be presented before the joint meeting of parliamentary parties on March, 17 for final approval. Advisory committee had recommended that parliamentary committees be further strengthened and more powers be given to them, he pointed out. All the data relating to the former ministries and their ministries had also been obtained.
PPP sources informed all cabinet members would be given target in respect of their departments and ministries and they would be required to meet these targets within 100 days. Inflation, unemployment, decrease in the prices of petroleum products and relief to poor people will figure high on the priority list of the coalition government, he added. Sources told the prospective ministers include Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Shahid Khaaqan Abbasi, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Farooq Naik, Khurshid Shah Raza Rabbani, Naveed Qamar Sherry Rehman and Raja Pervez Ashraf.