ISLAMABAD:
Despite forming a negotiating panel to address reservations of key ally Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League’s Nawaz-led government has failed to woo the Bilawal-led party as it has once again expressed their concern about unfulfilled promises and commitments.
During a party meeting, key PPP leaders conveyed to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that the ruling PML-N had not made enough progress on the commitments it had earlier made with the party and different provinces, saying that the government aims to present key bills in parliament in the coming days.
The high-level meeting of PPP headed by its president Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was attended by Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, and PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar. at Bilawal House in Karachi.
“The participants expressed a lack of confidence in the federal government regarding the progress of the commitments made with several provinces,” reads an official statement issued after the meeting.
A detailed discussion on the overall political situation in the country was held during the meeting. He added that the participants briefed Bilawal on the progress made so far in negotiations with the government, as well as the upcoming legislation planned by the government.
After a briefing, Bilawal “instructed attendees to intensify their engagements with the government so that the positive results of these interactions could be presented during the PPP Central Executive Committee meeting.”
Soon after the PPP president lashed out at the PML-N, the ruling party reached out to him and assured him that all his reservations would be addressed soon. Since then, both sides constituted committees, Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar met Bilawal and the parties’ panels held a meeting.
However, the PPP still feels aggrieved and the same was conveyed through the official statement. In November, the PPP president not only went public with the matter but also lamented the government’s attitude towards his party.
Bilawal had accused the ruling PML-N of violating its agreement with the PPP, not only a key ally of the ruling party but the only party in parliament that has the potential to topple the government at any time. He said this is not just mere discontent as true politics is based on respect and the PML-N must respect its agreements.
This is not the first time that the PPP has raised concerns as the party had similar complaints against the PML-N when the budget was presented. The disgruntled PPPP legislators had only a token participation in the budget session; that too after Dar rushed to Bilawal’s chamber, requesting the party to attend the budget session.
However, the PPP president had only sent three of his MNAs – Naveed Qamar, Khursheed Shah and Ijaz Jakhrani – to represent the PPPP in the session, as the party felt that the PML-N not only deviated from its agreement post-election but began to take PPPP for granted.
The PPP is not only concerned about governance issues in Punjab and South Punjab but also has reservations over political disputes over water management. He believes that new challenges are emerging for the agricultural and digital economies, and regrets that there are delays in flood rehabilitation efforts.
Also, PPP has reservations about building new canals from the Indus River. Bilawal had earlier said that this step was another example of the PML-N’s breach of the agreement with the PPP. He recalled that while he was working on the 26th amendment, the canal project was approved behind his back, despite strong objections from PPP members.
Additionally, Bilawal has “criticized the federal government for failing to implement the equality promised during the constitutional amendments.” He revealed that he “withdrew from the Judicial Commission in protest”, stating that if he had stayed, he would have addressed the disparities in the constitutional court.
He stressed that if there were judges from rural Sindh in the Supreme Court, he would advocate for equality as the highest judicial institution requires fair representation. He stated that one country cannot operate under two separate systems as different treatment for Sindh is repeatedly evident.
Following the previous meeting between the two parties, both the PPP and PML-N have remained tight-lipped and are yet to share details with the media and public.
