Shehbaz, Bilawal agree to resolve differences through dialogue

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Thursday discussed the overall political situation and agreed to resolve concerns and reservations through dialogue and cooperation.

A PPP delegation, comprising former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Senator Sherry Rehman, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Nadeem Afzal Chan, and Syed Ali Qasim Gilani, held an important meeting at the Prime Minister’s House.

On behalf of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to the PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan, among others, attended the meeting.

According to PPP sources, the party had decided to put the government assurances and discussion with the prime minister on their concerns and reservations in the Central Executive Committee on October 18 (Saturday) in Karachi to make its future line of action.

Sources said Bilawal conveyed his party’s concerns about the Punjab government’s functioning and lack of consultation in the legislative and administrative matters of Punjab. The prime minister assured him that the PPP’s reservations would be addressed amicably, emphasizing the need to strengthen coalition harmony and avoid unnecessary friction.

Both sides agreed to resolve misunderstandings and political differences through consultation and mutual respect.

According to an official statement after the meeting, the PPP delegation lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s constructive role in the Gaza peace accord. The prime minister, in response, said the PPP was a valued coalition partner and the government regarded its relationship with the party with respect and appreciation.

Sources said Bilawal clearly articulated the PPP’s stance, expressing reservations that the party was not being given due importance as a coalition partner both at the federal and Punjab levels.

He complained that while the party’s leadership had spoken positively about PMLN leader Maryam Nawaz, the PPP in return faced public criticism and political backlash.

According to government sources, many of the PPP’s complaints were linked to the conduct of PMLN’s political leadership in Punjab — issues that they said, “could best be resolved at the party-to-party level.”

Both sides agreed to maintain the ceasefire on political rhetoric and continue dialogue over Punjab-related matters.

Earlier, the much-anticipated meeting between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) delegation and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar ended without any breakthrough, though both sides agreed to keep the channels of communication open. According to informed sources, the PPP delegation conveyed serious reservations to the deputy prime minister Senator Ishaq Dar about governance and decision-making in Punjab.

The PPP leaders complained that the Punjab government had moved forward with the local government laws without taking its coalition partners into confidence. They also voiced concern over the apparent shelving of the agreed Punjab power-sharing formula, saying “not even an inch of progress” had been made on its implementation. The deputy prime minister, sources added, assured the PPP delegation that their concerns would be conveyed to the top leadership and resolved through dialogue.

APP adds: Meanwhile, a delegation led by Muttahida Qaumi Movement Convener and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Thursday called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and discussed the overall political situation in the country. The delegation included Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori and Members of the National Assembly Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar, Aminul Haq and Javed Hanif.

The prime minister said timely completion of ongoing development projects of the federal government was among the priorities.