PESHAWAR:
Numbers seem important to the coalition government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. A day after the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) was shown the door, smaller parties and independent candidates gained more importance.

Amidst criticism, allegations and speculations, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP), partners in the government, have reiterated their stance to stay in the coalition. “We have an understanding,” Minister for Agriculture and Information Technology Shahram Khan Tarakai told The Express Tribune.

AJIP’s Tarakai elaborated there was mutual agreement on several issues between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), JI and AJIP.

In reference to recent developments, Tarakai said, “I know we (AJIP) are now more important than previously within the coalition.” He said the government sided with the coalition partners on all important issues, including the blockage of Nato supplies set to begin next week.

Sources within the party say even they were unaware of QWP’s decision until Wednesday evening, when the announcement was made that the QWP would pull out of the coalition government.

AJIP currently has five members in the provincial assembly Abdul Munim, Babar Khan, Khatoon Bibi, Muhammad Ali Tarakai and Shahram Khan Taraki himself.

Although it does not seem likely to political observers that QWP’s break from the coalition will have any traumatic effect on the government for now, the Awami National Party, which had previously said it will not support any no-confidence vote in the house, now says any future decision will be made based on the way circumstances develop further. “We will evaluate the situation and then make our decision,” said Iftikhar Hussain.

“PTI might seem immature to its critics,” said a party member privy to political developments, “but it is only about perception – we have done our homework and we know where we are headed,” he said.

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