Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. Photo: APP/AFP
LAHORE:
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday and held wide-ranging discussions on political, security and regional developments and agreed to continue political consultations on issues of national importance amid rising tension between their allied parties – the PPP and the PML-N.
According to the President’s House, the meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Rana Sanaullah.
The PPP delegation included Senators Sherry Rehman, Saleem Mandviwalla and Nayyar Hussain Bukhari.
During the discussions, the president and prime minister reviewed the current political climate, the internal and regional security situation, and recent international developments, including peace efforts in Gaza.
Prime Minister Shehbaz briefed President Zardari on his recent visits to Egypt and Malaysia, including his engagements with world leaders and discussions on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach.
The two leaders also held a one-on-one meeting, during which they exchanged views on key national priorities and the general direction of government policies.
A statement said the two agreed to maintain “continued political consultations on issues of national importance.”
Tension increases between PPP and PML-N over security dispute
However, fresh tensions resurfaced within the ruling coalition after reports emerged that the Punjab government had withdrawn security from Bilawal House in Lahore, drawing strong criticism from PPP leaders.
Lahore PPP president Aslam Gill accused the PML-N of “pettiness and narrow-mindedness”, saying: “The withdrawal of security is an act of political insecurity. The PPP is a fighting party; it is not dependent on the protection of the state.”
Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb dismissed the reports.
“The news about the withdrawal of security from Bilawal House is completely false and baseless,” he wrote on X.
“The security of Bilawal House remains completely intact and was never removed. The media is strongly advised to verify such information with official government sources before broadcasting it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lahore police spokesperson also denied the allegations and termed reports of security withdrawal as “baseless and contrary to facts”. The spokesperson clarified that “security at Bilawal House remains fully intact and in accordance with standard procedure.”
“Some staff were on leave and replacements have been sent,” the police statement said.
“Linking routine administrative changes with political motives is misleading and contrary to facts. The Punjab government issued no such instructions,” he added.
However, PPP sources claimed that the party leadership was angry about what happened and had decided not to request police protection again, saying: “Even if the government offers security now, we will not accept it.”
The same sources alleged that the Punjab government had earlier withdrawn security from the family of Senate President Yusuf Raza Gilani.
