Maneuvering begins to cobble up 'PDM 2.0'

A flurry of meetings took place in Lahore on Sunday, first the PML-N met the MQM-P and later with the PPP, where the parties, which in total have the numerical strength to form a coalition government, in “principle agreed to work together”.

PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, younger brother of his party supremo Nawaz Sharif, along with a sizable delegation held his first official meeting with the PPP leadership at Lahore’s Bilawal House. He met with PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and his son, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

However, in reality this was the second meeting between the two sides, with the first somewhat clandestine one held at Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s residence on February 9, where Nawaz’s message was communicated to the PPP leadership.

According to an insider, the PML-N supremo was expected to be present in the second meeting.
However, a party source claimed that within the PPP, Shehbaz bringing a fleet of leaders along with him was also seen as the PML-N’s lack of seriousness.

The PML-N delegation that met with the PPP leadership included Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Shaza Fatima.

In light of the PML-N’s proposal, the PPP has called its Central Executive Committee meeting in Islamabad on Monday (today) where its demand for the premiership was expected to be decided.
Multiple sources have already told The Express Tribune that the PPP wanted the premiership for itself and not keen on giving this position to the PML-N leadership.

PPP spokesperson Faisal Kareem Kundi has reportedly said his suggestion before the Central Executive Committee would be for his party to either have their premier or sit in the opposition benches if the PML-N did not agree to it.

According to an official statement issued after this meeting, the participants expressed their commitment to putting the nation's interest and well-being above everything.

The leaders of both parties engaged in substantive discussions about the prevailing political landscape and the imperativeness of collaborative efforts for the betterment of the country.

Reflecting a spirit of consensus-building, the leaders acknowledged the importance of establishing a framework for sustained political cooperation between the PML-N and PPP, laying the groundwork for a stronger as well as more united approach to address the challenges faced by the nation.

The key points of the discussion included the assessment of Pakistan's overall situation; deliberations on future political strategies; as well as exchange of recommendations aimed at promoting stability and progress across the board.

Both parties affirmed their dedication to steering the country away from political instability and towards a path of prosperity as well as resilience.

Highlighting the mandate bestowed upon them by the majority of the nation, the leaders underscored their unwavering commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the people.

They stressed the need for ensuring that the people’s voices were heard and heeded.

As a concrete step towards further dialogue and collaboration, the PML-N committed to present its suggestions to the PPP’s Central Executive Committee meeting, underscoring its willingness to actively contribute to the ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing political cohesion and efficacy.

Talking to a private TV news channel, Irfan Siddiqui, a PML-N leader, when asked about PPP’s desire of having their prime minister in the coalition set-up, said his party in its internal meeting had not decided its position on its former ally’s demand for the premier’s slot.

He said the PML-N was the majority party and that was why it had the prerogative of making its own premier.

Read more: No talks on forming next govt, says MQM-P after PML-N moot

Siddiqui added that the PML-N hoped that all parties in the alliance would adhere to democratic principles and norms.

He maintained that as of now, there had been no such concrete demand from either side in this connection.

Responding to a query about the Nawaz being the PML-N’s candidate for the premiership, he said if his party was in majority, this would have been a “no questions asked” scenario.

However, he continued that as the PML-N lacked the simple majority, it would not want any decision to be imposed on its partners. He added that his party and its partners would want to collectively decide the matter.

A PPP insider said his party wanted to see its leadership at the helm of affairs, but at this stage it was taking a cautious approach.

He said the PPP was busy roping in independent candidates quietly as opposed to the PML-N, which was celebrating its small victories.

He added that as the PML-N had the numerical advantage, the PPP wanted the dust to settle before makings its final decision.

A senior PML-N leader said as of now both parties had in principle agreed to work together to prevent the country from drifting into anarchy and denied the impression of any impasse between the two sides.

He added that the PML-N had put forth its suggestions before the PPP leadership and they would further be presented before the party's Central Executive Committee meeting for ratification.

The PML-N leader said Nawaz was not the only candidate for the premiership and the party was ready to nominate Shehbaz for the position if it came to that.

Separately, an MQM-P delegation led by its convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, that was in Lahore since Saturday, held its meeting with Nawaz, Shehbaz and other PML-N leaders at the party supremo’s residence in Jati Umra.

Apart from Siddiqui, the delegation included Dr Farooq Sattar, Kamran Tessori, and Mustafa Kamal.

After the meeting, Siddiqui refuted reports about talks on forming the next government in the meeting.
He also denied that his party had sought the slot of the Sindh governor.

“There is no time for [talks on] government formation and politics, but today only the threats faced by Pakistan as well as various options to get the country out of this quagmire have been discussed,” Siddiqui told the media in Lahore.

“Pakistan is facing a challenging situation and all the political parties as well as institutions should pull the country out of it,” he added.

He stressed the need for saving democracy in the country even if politics had to be sacrificed.
“The issue is not about power, but about the authority of the people and the stability of democracy.”

MQM-P leader Kamal, while talking to a private TV news channel, said even prior to the elections, his party had an understanding with the PML-N that they would work together in a coalition.

“So this meeting [with the PML-N leadership] was not to discuss the number of ministries and positions we would receive,” he maintained.

Kamal said the MQM-P’s decision revolved around the issues faced by the people.
He continued that his party wanted to ask the PML-N what it would to address the grievances of the people.

“This is the last chance for political parties to deliver.”

After the meeting, the PML-N released a statement saying the two parties had reached a “principle agreement” on working together.

“We will work together in the interest of the country and public,” the statement read, adding that “basic points” had been agreed upon by both the parties.

Apart from contacting other parties, consultations were under way within the PML-N as well.

A consultative meeting of the PML-N central leadership was held at the Jati Umra residence under the chairmanship of Nawaz in which the overall situation -- including the party’s position, government formation, as well as relations with other political parties and independent members –was discussed in detail.

The PML-N supremo was entrusted with the authority to nominate and convene meetings of party forums.

Nawaz was scheduled to pay a visit to PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat at his residence. However, the meeting, apparently given its insignificance, was postponed. The PML-N supremo is expected to hold a meeting with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

(With input from our another correspondent in Lahore)