Bilawal forms committee to address issues with federal government

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has formed a 9-member committee of the party to address unresolved matters with the federal government.

The committee, which includes prominent party members like Raja Pervez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, and Sherry Rehman, will engage with federal authorities to resolve ongoing issues, Express News reported.

In addition to PPP leaders, the committee also includes key provincial figures, such as the Chief Ministers of Sindh and Balochistan, as well as Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Kundi.

The committee is expected to stay in close contact with the federal government and highlight pertinent issues, presenting its findings in an upcoming Central Executive Committee meeting next month.

Last week, Bilawal had previously expressed frustration with the federal government, claiming that agreements were not being honoured. "I was engaged in the 26th Amendment, and in my absence, the government approved canals behind my back," he said, underlining the ongoing concerns that prompted the formation of the committee.

Addressing the media at Bilawal House in Karachi on Thursday, Bilawal stated that the issue was not about personal grievances but about honour and political integrity.

“Politics is about respect, not resentment. If the judiciary had representation from rural Sindh, we would have demanded equality,” he remarked, referring to Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Bilawal highlighted the government's failure to adhere to agreements, particularly during constitutional reforms, citing discrepancies in policy implementation.

"During the constitutional reform process, the government made promises but then backtracked, adopting different approaches for Sindh compared to the rest of the country," he added.

The PPP leader also criticised the lack of consultation in key governance decisions, particularly the approval of projects like the canals under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

"We had agreed on consultation, but instead, decisions were made without proper dialogue," Bilawal said, expressing disappointment at the government's actions.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had directed that Bilawal’s concerns be addressed, but it seems dissatisfaction remains over the handling of matters between the two parties.