PML-N, PPP leaders meet after MPA-Buzdar moot

Disgruntled MPAs says ‘dozens’ on verge of publicly airing concern over PML-N policy

LAHORE: A day after one PPP and six PML-N lawmakers ‘reposed trust’ in Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar – who belongs to the ruling PTI, two top leaders of the PML-N met with PPP chief, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

“A delegation including PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqabl met Bilawal to discuss affairs of parliament,” the PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Auragnzeb said after the meeting in a carefully worded statement.

Marriyum, however, added that “the PTI government is bulldozing all parliamentary norms and procedures and both the parties have agreed to form a joint strategy against it.”

In a setback to the PML-N, six of its Punjab Assembly lawmakers on Tuesday met Buzdar and ‘reposed confidence’ in his leadership – a move that drew ire of the opposition party’s provincial leadership.

According to a statement issued by the CM office, these assembly members showed confidence on the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

Talking with reference to the move, Marriyum said the party has formed a four-member committee – comprising former Punjab Assembly speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Awais Laghari, and Hamza Shehabz – to seek a reply from the six members.

She, however, tried to play down significance of the development, which, she said, is not of such great significance “but media created hype about”.

“These MPAs have clarified in the media that they still are part of the PML-N and only met with the CM to seek funds for their constituency.  The PML-N is like a family. The party members have stood with party in worst of times and they would continue to do so,” she said.

However, one of the PML-N lawmakers, Nishat Daha, who was part of the group that met Buzdar a day earlier, said “several dozen” PML-N lawmakers are on the verge of going public with their concerns over their own party’s policies.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Daha said the party had been left at the mercy of time as its top leaders are enjoying their “vacations in London”.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif flew to London on November 19, 2019 in an air ambulance along with his ailing elder brother, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, after Nawaz was granted bail in a graft case and the permission to get medical treatment abroad.

Both Nawaz and Shehbaz – respectively described as the supreme leader and the president of the biggest opposition party – are still in London, apparently with no immediate plan to return.

“Nawaz Sharif’s entire family is in London to look after him and there is no justification for Shehbaz Sharif’s stay in the UK’s capital anymore,” Daha said.  He said Nawaz instead of getting any treatment is going to pubs and clubs. “These people do not even know how to lie properly,” he added.

The provincial lawmaker claimed that many leaders within the party are not happy with the way leadership is dealing with daily affairs of the party.

“I have just dared to be the first drop of rain. Many in the party are in touch with the PTI and the PML-Q. My advice is only for the betterment of the party and leading family of the party should come out of the illusion of power and deal with the issues pragmatically,” he added.