KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has given the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN)-led federal government one-month deadline to address its concerns and fulfill the commitments made during the formation of the coalition government.
Senator Sherry Rehman, a senior PPP leader, announced this after a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) held at the Bilawal House on Saturday chaired by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and attended by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Addressing a press conference alongside PPP leaders Nadeem Afzal Chan and Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Senator Sherry Rehman said that if the federal government failed to resolve PPP’s reservations within the stipulated period, another meeting of the CEC will be convened to take important political decisions. She made it clear that the PPP is not joining the federal cabinet but will continue to play a constructive political role in improving the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
She emphasized that the federal government must immediately take concrete measures for the rehabilitation of flood-affected communities, including the restoration of livelihoods, fixation of minimum wheat support price, and emergency financial assistance through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). “We demand that the federal government accept Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s proposals, declare a climate emergency, and provide relief by waiving electricity bills for flood victims,” she said, adding that the world recognises BISP as a successful poverty-alleviation model and that assistance to victims should be disbursed through this programme.
Sherry Rehman noted that farmers are suffering due to crop and livestock losses, and fertiliser shortages, such as urea and DAP, have worsened their situation. “We expect the federal government to fix the wheat support price and ensure fertiliser availability,” she said, urging it to learn from Sindh’s experience in post-disaster recovery and agricultural policy.
She said the CEC also condemned the recent terrorist incidents in the country, expressing full solidarity with the armed forces and security institutions defending Pakistan’s borders. “Whether it is India, Afghanistan, or any extremist group — if they attack our people or our military, they will receive a fitting response,” she declared. The meeting also praised the sacrifices made by the armed forces and paid rich tributes to the martyrs of democracy, including those who lost their lives in the Karsaz tragedy of October 18, 2007.
Highlighting the importance of the day, Sherry Rehman recalled that October 18, 2007, marked a massive public gathering welcoming Shaheed Benazir Bhutto back to her homeland, when cowardly terrorists launched one of the deadliest attacks on a political party. “The PPP will never forget the debt owed to the martyrs,” she said. She further stated that the PPP will continue its democratic struggle for strengthening parliament and democratic institutions and prefers dialogue over confrontation. “We will not engage in controversial rhetoric, but we will continue to raise our voice for the people’s issues,” she asserted.
On the political situation, Sherry Rehman revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had recently invited Chairman Bilawal Bhutto for a meeting and assured him that the government would address PPP’s concerns. “The CEC has been briefed about these assurances, but since many promises made during the formation of the government remain unfulfilled, we have given the federal government one month to act on them,” she said.
Nadeem Afzal Chan said that the government used the IMF as an excuse to avoid purchasing wheat. “BISP is a backbone for poverty reduction and must not be politicised. We have not expressed distrust in anyone’s performance but are demanding that the poor be prioritised,” he remarked.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the PPP represents the people and will raise their grievances. “If there are complaints, we will voice them, because representing the people’s concerns is our duty,” he said.
Concluding the press conference, Senator Sherry Rehman reiterated that the PPP has always stood by democracy and consensus-building rather than seeking privileges or power. “We are not in the race for positions; our politics is driven by principles and public service. If our concerns remain unresolved, the CEC will decide the next course of action after one month,” she declared.
