Pak coalition at breaking point

Former premier Nawaz Sharif8217;s PML-N, which is ruling Punjab, said it was not consulted on the move. Describing Taseer as a 8220;controversial figure8221;, the party said his appointment was part of a conspiracy hatched by Musharraf to initiate horse-trading in the province.

PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul Farooq said, 8220;We have not been consulted or taken into confidence. The Information Minister Sherry Rehman says they have informed us. There is a lot of difference between informing and taking into confidence.8221;

The PML-N will boycott Taseer8217;s swearing-in ceremony on Friday and Farooq warned: 8220;If they PPP take further steps like that, the coalition will be in danger.8221;

Observers said the appointment of Taseer, who served as the PPP8217;s spokesman in the early 1990s, had further estranged the two parties as it came after the PML-N ministers quit the government in the wake of their differences on the contentious issue of reinstating the judges sacked by Musharraf during last year8217;s emergency.

Senior PPP leader Taj Haider responded to Farooq8217;s comments by saying that his party had briefed the PML-N on the appointment even though it was 8220;not obliged to consult8221; its coalition partner.

8220;Our party says we consulted, they say we only informed. I think this objection is not valid at all. The PPP government has acted within its rights and appointed a person who is most deserving,8221; Haider said, adding Taseer had a 8220;brilliant record of fighting dictators8221; and had been jailed and tortured during PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif8217;s two tenures as prime minister.

8220;There are jurisdictions that must be respected. We respect their jurisdiction, they should respect ours,8221; Haider said.

But Farooq pointed out that the PML-N was not only the PPP8217;s coalition partner at the centre and in Punjab but it was the 8220;senior partner8221; in the provincial government.

In such circumstances, the PML-N should have been consulted in the matter, he said.

Sharif is expected to meet PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari soon to take up Taseer8217;s appointment and other issues troubling the two-month-old alliance that was formed by the two parties on March 9.

Taseer had served as a minister in the caretaker government formed by Musharraf to oversee the February 18 general election. The PML-N has said Taseer is a member of the 8220;President8217;s camp8221; who is being sent to Punjab to destabilise the party8217;s government in the province.