The two major political players in Sindh — the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) — on Monday agreed on a power-sharing formula in the province according to which eight ministers and five advisers from the MQM would join the Sindh cabinet.

The oath-taking ceremony would be held on Friday at the Governor House here. An MQM spokesman, talking to The News, confirmed the successful outcome of the talks, saying “the MQM now is part of the coalition”. However, he did not say whether the MQM would join the cabinet at the Centre.

Meanwhile, MQM sources in London said the party would also share ministries at the Centre and it would be a coalition partner of the PPP alone. They also said names of the would-be ministers will be announced within 72 hours.

The sources in London said the deal had been reached after Altaf Hussain and Asif Ali Zardari held telephonic conversations, following reports of a deadlock in talks in Islamabad. After the conversations, a lengthy meeting took place between the Rabita Committee and the PPP team on Monday that ended in a breakthrough. Names of the ministers would be announced from the London secretariat of the party and the Rabita Committee is conducting interviews of candidates.

When asked about the PML-N and the ANP apprehensions over the MQM joining the coalition, the sources said the PPP leadership would deal with it. The sources maintained that the Muttahida is walking a tightrope at the moment as the situation is still tense over the issue of the local government and wants a harmonic atmosphere till its ministers take oath.

Various actions and orders of the Sindh government regarding the local government have cast a bad shadow over the recent political developments and the MQM is particularly refrained from issuing any statement that could profane the political atmosphere.

MQM’s Faisal Sabzwari told The News that talks were still going on and the modalities were being worked out. Tahir Hasan Khan adds: PPP leaders and provincial ministers on Monday avoided confirming reports about an agreement with the MQM and induction of its ministers in the Sindh government.

However, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Mari told reporters that no final decision has been reached in this regard and; therefore, she could not confirm it. She said talks with the MQM were held in Islamabad in the last week in a cordial atmosphere and these were going on in a right direction but some more sessions were needed to conclude the dialogue and the party was ready for it. Sources claimed that Rehman Malik who initiated the talks with the MQM has reached Dubai with the agreement and he briefed Asif Ali Zardari about details of the agreement.