Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a crucial meeting with disgruntled Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday as the key ally ‘complained about the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) unilateral attitude in decision-making’.
The top leaders of the ruling coalition partners — the PML-N and the PPP — held a key meeting in Islamabad after the latter lodged a token protest during the National Assembly session last week in which Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled the budget 2024-25.
PPP Chairman Bilawal apprised PM Shehbaz about “reservations” on behalf of his party which is the key ally of the incumbent PML-N administration in the Centre.
During the meeting, Bilawal voiced his reservations over the federal government’s “non-seriousness” towards different projects in the PPP-led Sindh.
PPP chief also complained to the premier about its administration for not taking his party’s into confidence in decision-making, including the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and budget proposals.
It also emerged that both sides discussed the PPP’s inclusion in the federal cabinet and power-sharing in Punjab during the meeting which was also attended by senior leaders.
Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Attaullah Tarar, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ali Pervaiz Malik and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb attended the huddle.
From PPP’s side, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Khursheed Shah and Sherry Rehman participated in the meeting.
As per the sources, the PPP chief also assured the premier that his party will help the federal government in passage of the federal budget from parliament.
Commenting on the meeting, PPP leader Senator Saleem Mandviwalla told media that the Bilawal-led party agreed to support the PML-N-led federal government to the extent of the Finance Bill 2024-25 and it is in contact with the finance minister.
