Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday, with both agreeing to resolve tensions between their political parties through dialogue and cooperation.
Despite being part of the ruling coalition in the center, the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) have verbally clashed on several occasions over the past month, primarily due to differences over how the Punjab government should respond to this year’s floods. The PPP chairman has repeatedly called for utilizing the Benazir Income Support Program to distribute funds, while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has accused the party of trying to politicize a natural disaster. The back-and-forth saw the PPP stage walkouts of the Senate and the National Assembly, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser assuring them of support if they wished to introduce a vote of no-confidence against P.M. Sharif.
There have been several attempts to resolve the rancor, but neither side has fully maintained a ceasefire, with contentious statements continuing on TV talk-shows and during press interactions. In the latest bid to reduce tensions, the prime minister met a delegation of the PPP and assured it that the PMLN values and respects their partnership.
PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Sherry Rehman, Nayyar Bukhari, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Syed Ali Qasim Gilani accompanied Bhutto-Zardari while the prime minister’s delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Public Affairs Minister Rana Mubashir Iqbal, Adviser to the P.M. for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan.
“The Pakistan Peoples Party is our ally and we value our relationship and view it with respect,” said the prime minister. The PPP, in turn, paid tribute to Sharif for Pakistan’s role in the Gaza Peace Agreement.
During the meeting, the PPP conveyed its concerns regarding the functioning of the Punjab government before the prime minister, lamenting a lack of consultation on legislative and administrative matters. The premier assured the coalition partner its reservations would be addressed amicably, stressing on the need to avoid unnecessary friction between the allies.
Both sides agreed to resolve misunderstandings and political differences through consultation and mutual respect.
According to sources, the PPP would debate the prime minister’s assurances before a meeting of its Central Executive Committee on Oct. 18.