PML-N delegation to meet Bilawal today

A three-member delegation of the PML-N is scheduled to meet PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday [today] to discuss the modalities of a proposed all parties conference (APC).

According to sources, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday telephoned the PPP chairman, who is in Lahore since Saturday evening. The two leaders agreed to hold further discussion in a meeting.

The PML-N delegation will include National Assembly former speaker Ayaz Sadiq, former railway minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal.

The PML-N delegation will discuss the APC agenda, its charter of demands and the means to achieve the charter of demands. However, it is not mandated to finalize any date for the APC.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said prior to deciding a date for the APC, a common agenda has to be agreed upon by all opposition parties.

Bilawal on June 26 called Shehbaz Sharif – who was then suffering from coronavirus disease and was in self-isolation – to share with him his proposal for holding the APC.

The PML-N chief had accepted the proposal and it was expected that he would call back Bilawal to iron out details of the huddle. Shehbaz had reportedly recovered from the ailment by June 5 and it was expected that he would hold a meeting with Bilawal who was then present in Lahore.

The meeting never took place. However, Shehbaz called Bilawal on July 8 – a day after the PPP chief had left for Karachi – to discuss details of the APC. According to a senior PPP leader in Punjab, his party relayed its concerns to the PML-N over its lukewarm response to the proposal.

He said the PML-N is dragging its feet over the APC issue but his party would continue its attempt to take even the PML-N on board for success of the cause.

A senior PML-N senator said it was completely pointless to hold an APC at this point without any goal in mind. He said this APC would just present a charter of demand or pass a resolution.

He said the only demand that can bring any considerable change is to push for a legislation to ensure free and fair elections. He said besides that everything else is secondary.

“It was pointless to run a movement against this government with blessings of the establishment. No movement can be run against this government at this point. However, the situation in politics can change in no time.”

He said people are not ready for any movement so any movement would be suicidal for the leadership. “All parties including the PTI will have to sensibly work their way out of this situation,” he said.