PPP Proposed a Two-and-a-Half-Year Power-Sharing Formula, Says Hudaifa Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for National Heritage and Culture Hudaifa Rehman has claimed that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) proposed a power-sharing arrangement under which the coalition government would be divided into two terms of two-and-a-half years each.

Speaking on a private television program, Rehman said the government had invited the PPP to formally join the federal cabinet, noting that the two parties had already worked together in the coalition for the past 16 to 18 months. However, he said the PPP declined the offer.

According to the minister, the PPP instead suggested that both coalition partners should govern for two-and-a-half years each.

Rehman said the government’s response was that if such a formula was to be adopted for the prime minister’s office, it should also apply to other constitutional positions, including the President, the Chairman Senate, and the Balochistan government.

He claimed that after this counterproposal, the PPP withdrew its suggestion. Rehman further alleged that President Asif Ali Zardari insisted on completing his full five-year constitutional term as president, after which the matter was dropped.

The minister’s remarks come amid ongoing political discussions over the future of the ruling coalition and possible power-sharing arrangements among its allies.