In a bid to address growing tensions within their coalition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are set to hold their first virtual meeting on Sunday (today).
The meeting comes after the PPP publicly aired grievances about being sidelined and mistreated in the coalition.
Following a meeting between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and the prime minister, the latter directed Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to engage with PPP leadership. However, PPP formed a committee to address its concerns instead of direct negotiations.
Despite lending unconditional support to the PML-N-led central government, the PPP has frequently reminded its ally of the agreed terms of the alliance, particularly during critical moments for the government.
Despite multiple attempts by the PPP to secure political space, their efforts have not yielded positive results.
According to sources, the primary reason for this failure is the PML-N camp's belief that PPP's support was coerced rather than voluntary.
Several leaders, speaking anonymously, claimed that those who have browbeaten the PPP into supporting the government are ensuring the alliance remains intact.
Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider, speaking to The Express Tribune, confirmed the meeting. He said a delegation from the PPP and PML-N will hold their first virtual meeting on Sunday.
He added that being on a tour of South Punjab, he was unaware of the specific agenda but noted that PPP's reservations have been made public, therefore nothing new is anticipated.
When asked about discussions regarding the imposition of the governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the governor asserted that PPP does not approve of such measures.
About criticism from Azma Bukhari, Sardar Saleem remarked, "Azma has a free pass to say anything she desires".
The PML-N's committee for the talks includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam, Advisor to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan, Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and party leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique, Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, and Bashir Ahmed Memon.
The PPP's committee includes Raja Pervez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmoud, Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider, Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi, and Haider Gilani.
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