PPP sought support to replace Senate Chairman: Sherpao
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—PPP-S Chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao Wednesday claimed that the PPP had sought his party’s support to replace the incumbent Chairman Senate Muhammedmian Soomro but his party had not yet taken any decision about it.
“PPP has made initial contacts to win support of our three senators to replace the incumbent Chairman Senate. However, we are yet to make any decision over the issue,” he said. Sherpao urged the parties sitting on opposition benches should work with coordination. “Opposition parties did not consult my party before nominating their candidates for the slots of Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, despite that my party is very much part of the opposition,”
When asked whether his party was part of the combined opposition, Sherpao said there was no existence of any united opposition. He said his party would adopt an issue-based approach and despite sitting on the opposition benches, PPP-S would support the new government over issues of national significance. “My party has some differences with the PML (Q) over some issues including the provincial autonomy, water reservoirs.” When asked whether the PPP-S would support the new government if it moved to repeal the Article 58-2(b), Sherpao said his party would support any step to strengthen democracy in the country.
To another question, the former interior minister said the PPP had not contacted him to win his party’s support for the slot of Speaker or Deputy Speaker. However, Sherpao said the new Speaker was a seasoned parliamentarian and her election was a positive development as she was competent enough to run the house business impartially.
To a query about his party’s support to the ANP-led NWFP government, Sherpao said his party would sit in the opposition in NWFP. However, his party had extended unconditional support to the majority parties in the province in a goodwill gesture.
“This support is reflective of our will that the next government may resolve all the issues being faced by the people of the province amicably,” he added. He also said it was the sole prerogative of the PPP to nominate its candidate for the office of prime minister. Head Pakistan Peoples Party Patriot (Sherpao Group) Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that his Party would fully support the resolution with regard to abolishment of article 58-2 (b) if it comes in the National Assembly. Talking to media men here at the Parliament house on Wednesday, Former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said we would support the resolution for abolishment of the article 58-2 (b) in the National Assembly.
We want Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) alliance to be continued in the better national interest, he said, adding that, any confrontation or dead lock between both Parties would damage Pakistan. He hoped that there would be no confrontation between PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for development in Sindh. Answering to a question, Sherpao said, neither he has any intention to join PPP nor he has been invited in this respect. Expressing reservation over suicide attacks soon start of the current year, he said, that there was massive increase in terrorist activities in the country during 2007. The incoming Government will have to face greater challenges such as menace of terrorism and extremism, Sherpao maintained. Civil society, religious Parties and Political Parties will have to work jointly for elimination of menace of terrorism and extremism, he said.
Former Government in its tenure utilized powers as well as negotiations for peace in NWFP but unfortunately it could not be fruitful, he admitted.