Is PPP getting ready to join govt?

ISLAMABAD: Despite continuous refusal of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and central leaders to get any ministries in the coalition government, it is surprising that acting president and Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed the party’s consent to join the federal and Punjab governments if fair share is given in the cabinets.

President Asif Ali Zardari is abroad on a private visit currently, but PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also seems very inactive on the country’s political scene. Is he in the country or not, is also a valid question in the current situation.

In a meeting with the prime minister, the PPP leaders assured him on Sunday to help the government get the federal budget approved from the National Assembly.

PMLN’s main ally, Pakistan Peoples Party, had initially decided not to take any ministries and had limited itself to only constitutional and parliamentary posts. However, finally, the decision to join the government has been indicated in clear words. This important indication of joining the government has come out from the mouth of Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, and not from the PPP chairman or the president himself. Gilani also revealed that talks were going on with the PMLN about joining the government.

While talking to the media in Lahore on Sunday, and earlier while speaking to journalists at his residence while performing his duties as the acting president, Yusuf Raza Gilani said if fair share of ministries was offered in the province, the PPP might consider joining Maryam Nawaz’s cabinet.

However, questions are being raised in political circles why such an important decision has not been shared with the media by the party chairman or President Zardari himself. It cannot be said with certainty whether Bilawal is present in the country or not; and if he is present in the country, why did he not make all these discussions himself as the party chairman?

A high-level PPP delegation met PM Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday. According to sources, the parties discussed the political situation of the country, especially the federal budget for the next financial year 2024-25. However, according to insiders, the PPP assured the PM that it would fully support the government on the occasion of budget and it would also stand with the government in resisting any disturbance in the House.

It should be noted that in the light of instructions received from Adiala jail, the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have threatened to close the assemblies, and a strategy is being devised by the party that the federal budget is not approved under any circumstances.