PPP mulls extending an olive branch to PTI

The Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarian (PPPP), acknowledging the PTI-backed candidates' winning spree, contemplated a potential offer to let the PTI take the lead in forming the central government.

However, if the PTI falters, the party might go ahead with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The proposal, still waiting for the green light, was discussed as the PTI-linked candidates triumphed in the majority of National Assembly seats. The PPP-P has decided to assemble committees to open negotiations with various political parties.

It's worth noting that PTI-backed candidates ran as independents, while PML-N emerged as the largest party in the polls, followed closely by PPPP.

The PPP-P leadership deliberated on different suggestions and proposals at the PPP-P’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Monday evening. Former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari chaired the CEC meeting of the party at Zardari House, Islamabad.

All the members of the CEC of the PPP were present in the meeting.

Faryal Talpur, president of PPP’s women's wing, was also present at the meeting of the CEC. In the meeting, the discussion was held regarding the general elections and the future of the country where the members exchanged views on the country’s current political and economic situation.

Members of the CEC of the PPP have made various suggestions regarding the political, economic and governmental situation of the country. The meeting came after PPP leadership decided in principle to work together with PML-N but postponed the final decision in this regard after taking the matter to CEC.

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A member of the PPPP’s CEC, while talking to The Express Tribune, shared that the party leadership deliberated upon the current situation arising after people gave a split mandate to the political parties, saying the party had no hesitation in conceding the public mandate given to PTI.

The leader revealed that some members suggested that PTI should be offered to make government and if they can’t then other parties should go ahead with the understanding reached with PML-N leadership.

To a question, he revealed that the CEC did not discuss any proposal where PML-N and PPP should share the PM Office for 3 and 2 years, respectively. He also said that no discussion has so far taken place about who will get what in Centre and provinces, including the key offices like Senate and National Assembly chairmanship and speaker office.

At the moment, he shared that the focus of the discussion is whether PML-N and PPP should work together or not, saying the rest of the details will be decided afterwards. However, another PPP leader had no hesitation in sharing the real decisions about the upcoming government and who would get what would be taken somewhere else, saying the current deliberations were just eyewash.

The party statement said that the meeting of the CEC began by paying homage to the martyrs of democracy. Moreover, members of the CEC expressed confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

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

Briefing the media after the meeting, Senator Sherry Rehman, Vice President PPPP, while being accompanied by Shazia Marri, Faisal Karim Kundi, Sarfaraz Bugti and other fellow leaders, said that the CEC meeting will continue tomorrow.

She extended congratulations to the winning candidates and said that the PPP has decided to form committees to negotiate with other political parties.