PML-N, PPP drift apart over Budget 2024-25

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has expressed serious concern over not being consulted on the upcoming fiscal year's budget, giving a deadline for consultation by tomorrow.

The PPP's parliamentary party, chaired by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, held a meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday where it voiced its apprehensions about not being included in budget discussions.

The PPP has given the committee until tomorrow to liaise with the government on budget proposals and has scheduled another parliamentary committee meeting for 2:30pm tomorrow. Members complained that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) did not include them in budget preparations, urging that relief be provided to the public.

The PPP clarified that while they support the PML-N for the sake of democracy, they will not compromise on public interests, accusing the PML-N government of not fulfilling its promises.

Previously, PPP leader Khurshid Shah stated that the government had not informed them about the budget and they had no knowledge of it.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Shah said, "We have no knowledge of the budget, the government did not consult us. In the past, the opposition was taken into confidence. Now that we are allies, we should have been consulted."

He added that if the IMF has set conditions, the government should have informed them. "We are stuck on the budget and have not even considered participating in the cabinet. The PPP is in the dark about the budget, and the government's failures will be blamed on us."

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Shah stressed that the government should consult PPP leadership, maintaining that parliament should function smoothly. "The PPP has been in power before and will return to power with the support of the people. We stand firmly with the government in the current situation," he said.

Meanwhile, after the parliamentary party meeting, PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri spoke to the media, stating that a meeting chaired by Bilawal was held to discuss the national budget scheduled for tomorrow. "Assembly members informed the party leadership of their concerns," she said.

Marri noted that difficulties arose due to the federal government's attitude towards PPP. "If farmers do not get relief, we face the consequences. It is surprising that the federal government has not fulfilled its agreements."

The PPP spokesperson stated that they were not consulted on the budget and tried to avoid reaching this point.

"The chairman spoke with the government, but the results were not as expected. The NEC meeting should have been held earlier. The chief minister of Sindh fought his case in the NEC. What has been given to Balochistan and Punjab? We are a political party and will provide input based on our manifesto. Does this government want the PPP to protest? The government needs to act responsibly," she said.

Marri added that they expected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to understand their concerns. "We see nothing in solar energy. Another meeting will be held at 2:30pm tomorrow," she concluded.