A meeting between representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Sunday failed to resolve all differences between the ruling coalition partners, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions this week.
Amidst growing rancor between the Punjab and Sindh governments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had met last week and agreed to iron out all differences between their parties. As part of this, a meeting between the coordination committees of both parties was scheduled to take place at the Punjab Governor House in Lahore on Sunday to deliberate on issues relating to governance in Punjab.
According to a statement, the PMLN’s side included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, acting Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, and P.M.’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, while the PPP’s side included Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, former speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nadeem Afzal Chan, MPA Ali Haider Gilani and PPP Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza.
Speaking with media after the meeting, Murtaza said the committees had agreed to conduct meetings twice a month to resolve differences as they arise. He said a sub-committee would be formed to debate issues pertaining to law and order in Punjab, the allocation of funds for subsidized electricity tariff; and unemployment. To a question, he said the differences were not significant enough to merit a parting of ways for the two parties.
PMLN’s Sanaullah, meanwhile, clarified that while the PPP’s issues with Punjab were discussed, there was no talk on the posting of district police officers or deputy commissioners. This was confirmed by Murtaza, who claimed the party did not want any say in the appointment of police and administration officers in the districts where the party’s candidate won the general elections.