LAHORE - Parliamentary arithmetic is in favour of the federal government for the time being, but its fate appears to be uncertain as coalition partners, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) are not willing to say in clear terms that they would stand by the PPP in the context of opposition parties thinking with respect to ways and means to get rid of the set up in case it fails to reform itself or come up to peoples expectations. A central MQM leader told The Nation on Tuesday as his party was mourning the assassination in London of Dr Imran Farooq it would not like to say anything on its policy about the government till Monday, when the 10-day mourning period comes to an end. A JUI (F) spokesman said his party would take a stance on the no-trust motion against the prime minister as and when it was tabled. However, he said, for the time being he saw no possibility of the opposition parties adopting such a course to dislodge the PM, who has completed half of his term. The ANP is firm in its support to the PPP. Many believe that the government may be shown the door in the weeks ahead through constitutional or other means. However, the PPP insists that it will stay in power and complete its constitutional term of five years. PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid has been quoted as saying in an interview that his party is in favour of moving a no-confidence against the prime minister, but is not doing so because it does not have the required numerical strength to have the resolution adopted The opposition must have 172 votes to oust the premier. Some other modes vis-a-vis change are also under consideration - the establishment of a broad-based national government comprising incumbent legislators of various parties. Being one of them, the PML-N has already indicated that it would be willing to join such a set up for a specific agenda provided the leaders responsible for confrontation with the judiciary are removed and all decisions of the apex court implemented. MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said the government had done many positive things and was also responsible for some lapses. The NFC Award and the 18th Amendment, he said, would be regarded as major achievements. Asked whether his party felt the there was need for change of the government, he said: We have suspended all our political activities. Answer to this question will be given on Monday. When asked to tell briefly what would be the MQMs policy in case the opposition came up with a no-trust motion against the premier, he said: Wait until Monday and you will get the answer JUI (F) spokesman Maulana Amjad Khan said his party did not see any move for the change of government. However, if a no-trust motion was brought against the prime minister, the JUI (F) would adopt a course of action at the time, he added. He said it would be premature to say something about party policy at this stage when nothing was in sight. The JUI (F) leader advised all politicians to focus on the rehabilitation of the flood victims rather than making plans against the government. ANP Information Secretary Senator Zahid Khan said the government had performed well in certain areas and had shown weakness in others. He said the opposition had the democratic right to change the government through constitutional means. The ANP is with the government and will stand by it in case it faces some difficult situation. He believed that rumours about the government change were baseless, although the rulers must try to reform themselves and come up peoples expectations.