Despite Bilawal’s outburst, President Zardari remains a major guarantor for present system

ISLAMABAD: Despite PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s complaints against the PMLN government, President Asif Ali Zardari remains one of the major guarantors for the stability of the present system. Though Bilawal Bhutto’s recent outburst against the PMLN and Shehbaz Sharif government made headlines yet there is no threat to the regime, which was established with the support of PPP.

All key PPP leaders, including Bilawal Bhutto, know that despite their complaints against the PMLN, the party will not withdraw its support for the Shehbaz government, which would not survive without PPP’s backing. All those who matter in the present system know that President Zardari is in harmony with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir to support the present system for the political and economic stability of the country. Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had told The News that he, President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir are on the same page for the political and economic stability of the country. For all the measures being taken for the stability of system and to improve the economic health of the country, all these three players work together. For the same reason, the PPP has been supporting all critical policies, including legislations moved by the government besides backing the economic agenda set by the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council). According to a source, in some matters related to the SIFC decisions where some PPP leaders from Sindh had their reservations, the president played his role to ensure nothing went wrong. A few days back, Bilawal Bhutto had accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) of violating its agreement with his party. During an informal discussion with journalists at PPP’s Media Cell in Karachi, Bilawal said that true politics was based on respect and the ruling coalition must adhere to its agreements. The PPP has been raising its discontent over the behaviour of PMLN and its governments in the Centre and Punjab. The PPP has repeatedly said the PMLN, particularly the Maryam Nawaz government in Punjab, is not adhering to the agreement reached between the two sides at the time of the formation of the government. Some senior PMLN leaders do admit that what the PPP was promised in Punjab has not yet been delivered. The PPP was promised that it will be given political space in Punjab by letting the party appoint its choice civil administration and police officials in districts and tehsils where the party had won the Feb 8 elections. Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, however, is insisting that she would not accept any political interference, including from own party in the civil bureaucracy appointments.