Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday met in Islamabad, as part of efforts to alleviate a recent surge in differences between their parties.
Reportedly, the prime minister apprised the PPP leader of “very important” legislation that is slated to be tabled in the National Assembly next week, possibly as soon as Monday. Additionally, said participants of the meeting, both sides discussed the prevailing political situation and various key issues facing the government.
One of the key points of contention raised by the PPP, per sources, was the non-implementation of an agreement regarding a power-sharing formula in Punjab. The issue has proven a thorn in ties between the two parties, as the PPP maintains that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is ignoring them and not granting them any space in the province. In a bid to resolve the impasse, minister Rana Sanaullah told Geo News on Thursday night that the coordination committees of the PMLN and PPP would meet at the Punjab Governor House on Sunday (Aug. 25).
Sanaullah further said the PPP and PMLN would meet again in Islamabad next week to iron out any further issues. The PPP, during the meeting, was represented by Bhutto-Zardari, Senator Sherry Rehman, former National Assembly speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and MNA Naveed Qamar. Meanwhile, the PMLN was represented by the prime minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, P.M.’s aide on public and political affairs Rana Sanaullah, and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
While the PPP and PMLN have exhibited differences since almost the onset of the incumbent government, the latest issue arose over the Punjab government’s announcement of a power subsidy for its residents. To questions from media over why the Sindh government didn’t introduce similar relief measures, provincial officials—including Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah—derided Punjab’s program, describing it as “foolish.” This prompted a retaliatory response from the Punjab government, with the back-and-forth persisting for several days before the party leaders sought to end it.