LAHORE - Following recently negotiated cease-fire between the PPP and the PML-N after a month-long wrangling to have control over Punjab, the two parties are facing yet another major disagreement over constitution of 46 standing committees in Punjab Assembly and election of their chairmen. A high level committee of Punjab Assembly mandated to resolve the issue, which is scheduled to meet on Monday (today), but it is less likely to evolve consensus due to divergent views of the stakeholders. Headed by Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal, the committee comprises Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz, Punjab Minister for Law, Rana Sanaullah and Leader of Opposition, Ch Zaheeruddin Ahmad. The PPP not only wants 40 per cent share in these committees including their chairmen, it is also advocating the cause of PML-Q vis-a-vis members of latter's forward bloc in the assembly. The PML-N, on the other hand, is demanding separate representation in these bodies for PML-Q dissidents who also supported party's candidate in the recent presidential election. It also wants to have some slots of chairmen of these bodies for members of the forward bloc. The head of PPP's parliamentary party in Punjab Assembly, Raja Riaz is of the view that if the PML-N wants to accommodate members of the forward bloc in the committees, it should do so from its own quota of representation. The Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Ch Zaheeruddin believes that the so-called forward bloc has no legal status in the Punjab Assembly, and hence could not be treated as separate political group. The PML-Q is, therefore, demanding quota in standing committees on the basis of its actual strength (83) in the assembly. Also connected to it is the issue of electing chairmanship of two public accounts committees in the Punjab Assembly. The PML-Q, the only opposition party in the assembly, has demanded chairmanship of the accounts committees in line with the decision made in the National Assembly, where the slot of chairman Public Accounts Committee has been given to Leader of Opposition, Ch Nisar Ali Khan. The PML-N is, however, opposed to the idea. According to assembly rules of procedure, members of all standing committees are to be elected in accordance with the agreement between the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition. In case of disagreement, the members are to be elected by the assembly from amongst its member according to the principle of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The chairman of a committee is elected by the committee from amongst its members. The chairmanship of the committees usually goes to the majority party in the assembly. Besides some perks and privileges attached with the office of chairman and members of the house committees, they are mandated to examine important legislation in the Assembly and to make recommendations in this regard. As there seems no chance of the two sides to reach some agreement, the issue is likely to be referred to the assembly. The said committee has already met twice but with no tangible results. It would be meeting for the third time today. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that PPP wants to put off the matter till the much-awaited expansion in Punjab cabinet, which is likely in the second week of October. The PPP fears that taking up of this issue at this point of time may damage its 'strategic relationship' with the PML-Q, whose members may get annoyed if not given their due representation in the house committees. It is to be noted that PML-Q has assured all out help to the PPP in Punjab in case Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif is asked to take fresh vote of confidence from the assembly after a possible pull out of its ministers from Punjab cabinet.