Pakistan

Opposition seeks to 'turn tables' on govt over rare lunch

Zardari, Bilawal to discuss joint strategy with Shehbaz

Our Correspondent February 05, 2022

Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif addressing a session in National Assembly in Islamabad on January 10, 2022. PHOTO: TWITTER/ @NAofPakistan

ISLAMABAD:

A meeting between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected on Saturday (today) as the opposition weighs a joint strategy to bludgeon the ruling party.

The PML-N leader rang up Bilawal Bhutto to invite him over luncheon in order to chalk out a strategy as part of the opposition’s continued efforts to have a leg up over the government in parliament. The PPP chairperson accepted the invitation.

PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is also expected to join the PML-N leader over lunch at the latter’s residence in Model Town.

The father-son duo is also scheduled to meet leaders of the Lahore chapter during their stay in the city to discuss strategy related to the long march on Islamabad the PPP has planned to take out from Karachi on Feb 27.

According to the sources, the opposition is holding consultations to turn the tide against the government in both the houses of parliament, sources said, adding that various means are being considered to defeat the government.

Besides, the issue of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s criticism against Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Senate also came under discussion.

Lawmakers belonging to the chief rival parties of the government participating in the talks include PPP MNA Palwasha Khan, PML-N leaders Musadik Malik, Azam Nazir Tarar and Rana Maqbool, and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the JUI-F.

Earlier, the sources said the PDM has chalked out a strategy to make its long march against the government a success.

They said that under the plan, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz will leave for the capital from Lahore while JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman from Karachi.

Sources added that bombproof containers had already been readied for both the leaders. Participants of the march will reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk where they will hold a long sit-in.