Islamabad: PML-Q, a key partner in Pakistan's
ruling coalition on Tuesday withdrew 17 of its ministers from the
federal cabinet, saying the PPP-led government had failed to
honour its commitments and to resolve the problems of the
people.
The PML-Q party decided to withdraw its ministers from
the cabinet as they were dissatisfied with the government's
performance, federal minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said.
Hayat, a senior leader of the PML-Q, told the media that
he too had quit the cabinet led by Pakistan People's Party.
A total of 17 federal ministers and ministers of state
submitted their resignations to PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat
Hussain, party officials said. The resignations will be sent
to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, they said.
The decision to withdraw the ministers was taken at a
meeting of the PML-Q's parliamentary party chaired by Hussain.
The ministers claimed they could not continue to work
with a government that did not fulfil its commitments.
They said they no longer had confidence in the ruling
PPP. The PML-Q, formed during the regime of former military
ruler Pervez Musharraf in early 2000, has nearly 50 members in
the National Assembly or lower house of parliament.
It was not immediately clear if the PML-Q would leave the
ruling coalition and sit in the opposition benches or continue
supporting the government.
The government might lose its majority in parliament if
the PML-Q decides to join the opposition. The ministers who
resigned said the ruling PPP led by President Asif Ali Zardari
had not honoured promises made to the PML-Q.
They said the government is not paying attention to the
people's problems like a crippling energy shortage.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, October 04, 2011, 21:39