Ruling PML-N takes key ally PPP into confidence ‘ahead of crucial legislation in parliament’

• Sources say matters related to Punjab, Centre discussed in meeting.
• PPP shares concern over “constantly being ignored in Punjab”.
• Sanaullah says another meeting of PM, Biawal, expected next week.

ISLAMABAD: Amid growing contentions between the two key ruling allies — the Pakistan Peoples Parties (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the top leaders of the two parties including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal-Bhutto Zaddari sat together in Islamabad on Thursday to iron out differences.   

Sources told Geo News that the coalition government led by PM Shehbaz took the PPP leadership into confidence ahead of “crucial legislation” in the National Assembly. 

In this regard, the sources said a session of the National Assembly will be convened on Monday for the “crucial legislation”. 

Without divulging details of the upcoming legislation, the insiders said the two sides also discussed the prevailing political situation in the country and various key issues.

The PPP delegation led by party chairman Bilawal consisted of Senator Sherry Rehman, former National Assembly speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and MNA Naveed Qamar.

From the PML-N side, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and PM’s aide on public and political affairs Rana Sanaullah attended the huddle. 

Sources said that PPP shared various concerns with PM Shehbaz, including the non-implementation of written agreement regarding power-sharing formula in Punjab.

“PPP is constantly being ignored in the Punjab government,” the sources cited one of the objections raised during the meeting.

They said that a meeting of the PML-N and PPP’s coordination committees has been called at Punjab Governor House on Sunday (August 25), where the issues between the two parties will be resolved.

Speaking on Geo News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ earlier today, PM’s aide Sanaullah confirmed the meeting between PM Shehbaz and Bilawal.

“All issues were discussed with the PPP,” he said adding that the premier will meet the PPP chief again next week.

Sanaullah further claimed that most of the issues with the PPP have been resolved.

“There will be a meeting with the PPP next week to make progress on some issues,” the PML-N leader added.

It may be noted that the two political allies have been at odds for quite sometime over the issue of federal budget, power subsidy among others. 

The most recent was the exchange of harsh words between PPP and PML-N on the issue of latter’s power relief in Punjab.

The sources earlier said that Bilawal was likely convey the party’s concerns and reservations on the PML-N government’s economic policies to the prime minister. 

As per the sources, the party’s concerns included Centre’s “excuses” based on “strict conditions” by International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the matter of providing subsidies and relief for the people, while Punjab provided relief to its masses at the same time.

Moreover, provision of cheap electricity to the people of Sindh through using coal which is abundant in Thar was also one of the party’s concerns.

After the February 8 general elections, the PPP formed government in Sindh and announced its support for PML-N in formation of the government in Centre and Punjab but refused to accept the ministries.