<p>PML-Q chief and former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and his cousin, former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, met Zardari over dinner at the presidency yesterday and reportedly finalised a plan for their party to join the ruling coalition.<br /><br />The meeting lasted over two hours, sources said.<br /><br />Over the past few weeks, Pakistan's political circles have been abuzz with reports of the beleaguered PPP forging an alliance with the PML-Q, which has been in the cold due to its strong links with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.<br /><br />The PML-Q was formed by Musharraf to give legitimacy to his rule after he came to power in a military coup in 1999.<br /><br />Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar declined to confirm the reports that the PPP and PMl-Q had finalised plans for forming a "national reconciliation government".<br /><br />Following the desertion of two key allies – the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – from the ruling alliance, the PPP has been trying to garner support from the PML-Q so that it has the numbers in Parliament to ensure the passage of the upcoming federal budget.<br /><br />The PPP is also eyeing an alliance with the PML-Q to strengthen its position for elections to the Senate or upper house of Parliament scheduled for March next year.<br /><br />An unnamed PML-Q leader told the Dawn newspaper that a roadmap had been framed under which the PML-Q and MQM would initially join the government while the JUI would become part of the alliance at a later stage.</p>.<p>The PPP also agreed on a draft plan presented by the PML-Q for reviving the crippled economy, improving law and order, tiding over an energy crisis and curbing inflation and bringing rising prices under control, media reports said.<br /><br />An agreement on the plan is likely to be signed in a meeting to be held at the presidency next week.<br /><br />Following this, PML-Q lawmakers will formally be inducted into the government.<br /><br />Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani did not attend yesterday's meeting and he is reportedly not pleased with the understanding with the PML-Q, media reports said.<br /><br />Gilani was not invited to three previous meetings between Zardari and PML-Q leaders. </p>
<p>PML-Q chief and former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and his cousin, former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi, met Zardari over dinner at the presidency yesterday and reportedly finalised a plan for their party to join the ruling coalition.<br /><br />The meeting lasted over two hours, sources said.<br /><br />Over the past few weeks, Pakistan's political circles have been abuzz with reports of the beleaguered PPP forging an alliance with the PML-Q, which has been in the cold due to its strong links with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.<br /><br />The PML-Q was formed by Musharraf to give legitimacy to his rule after he came to power in a military coup in 1999.<br /><br />Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar declined to confirm the reports that the PPP and PMl-Q had finalised plans for forming a "national reconciliation government".<br /><br />Following the desertion of two key allies – the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – from the ruling alliance, the PPP has been trying to garner support from the PML-Q so that it has the numbers in Parliament to ensure the passage of the upcoming federal budget.<br /><br />The PPP is also eyeing an alliance with the PML-Q to strengthen its position for elections to the Senate or upper house of Parliament scheduled for March next year.<br /><br />An unnamed PML-Q leader told the Dawn newspaper that a roadmap had been framed under which the PML-Q and MQM would initially join the government while the JUI would become part of the alliance at a later stage.</p>.<p>The PPP also agreed on a draft plan presented by the PML-Q for reviving the crippled economy, improving law and order, tiding over an energy crisis and curbing inflation and bringing rising prices under control, media reports said.<br /><br />An agreement on the plan is likely to be signed in a meeting to be held at the presidency next week.<br /><br />Following this, PML-Q lawmakers will formally be inducted into the government.<br /><br />Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani did not attend yesterday's meeting and he is reportedly not pleased with the understanding with the PML-Q, media reports said.<br /><br />Gilani was not invited to three previous meetings between Zardari and PML-Q leaders. </p>