ISLAMABAD: Top leadership of the ruling PML-N and its main ally party PPP met on Thursday to resolve their differences on certain issues related to governance and recent policy decisions by the federal and Punjab governments.
At the meeting and subsequent dinner at the Prime Minister’s Office, the PPP complained that agreements reached between the two parties when they formed the government in February were not being implemented.
Sources in both parties told Dawn that members of the PPP delegation led by party president Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari conveyed their grievances to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet ministers, mainly regarding the Punjab government.
They agreed that a coordination committee of the two parties would meet at the Governor’s House in Lahore on Sunday to “devise a mechanism to ensure regular coordination between the PPP and the Punjab government.”
Prime Minister Bilawal meets with Prime Minister Shehbaz and attends dinner; both sides agree to strengthen cooperation
The leaders of the two parties reviewed the current political situation in the country, according to a handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. The Prime Minister was quoted in the handout as saying that he has worked hard in collaboration with the coalition parties for the development and prosperity of the country.
Besides Bhutto-Zardari, the PPP delegation included former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the party’s Senate leader Sherry Rehman and MP Naveed Kamal.
The Prime Minister was assisted by Deputy Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Law and Politics Azam Nazir Tarar.
The prime minister called the meeting after rising electricity prices and issues over streamlining ministries as part of an austerity drive sparked bickering among the ruling alliance.
Friction intensified on Friday after PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz, announced a tax cut of Rs 14 per unit for consumers who use 200-500 units per month in Punjab, an announcement that drew scorn from the PPP-led Sindh and PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah blamed the PML-N for installing expensive power plants decades ago, which led to soaring electricity tariffs.
He also alleged that many projects requiring federal funds remain stalled and accused the federal government of ignoring Sindh.
Furthermore, the PPP had expressed serious concerns about the central government’s policy on streamlining ministries.
Sources said that at the meeting on Thursday, the Chief Minister told the PPP members that the central government has not provided a single penny to Punjab for this relief and the provincial government has raised funds from its own budget.
The two parties agreed to continue working together both inside and outside parliament, sources said. During the meeting, the PML-N expressed its displeasure with the Sindh chief minister’s remarks about the party and termed them “inappropriate”, the sources claimed.
When contacted, Ahsan Iqbal said the meeting took place in a “friendly atmosphere” and that both sides were of the view that they must cooperate.
He confirmed that the PPP had raised the issue of non-implementation of certain points of the agreements signed at the time of government formation, adding that most of them pertained to the Punjab government.
He said the Prime Minister had asked Rana Sanaullah to devise a mechanism for better coordination and cooperation between the PPP and the Punjab government.
Replying to a question on the PPP’s dissatisfaction over relief measures given to electricity consumers in Punjab only, Iqbal said the prime minister would inform the PPP members that he would soon announce reforms in the power sector and would gain the confidence of the PPP before making any such announcements.
The government is scheduled to convene the National Assembly from August 26, and the two sides also discussed the upcoming legislative agenda.
Published in Dawn on August 23, 2024
