Ahsan plays down PPP's criticism of federal govt

Minister says effective coordination mechanism exists to resolve issues

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KARACHI:

Planning Minister and secretary general of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal played down the recent criticism from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), saying that the reservations of the major coalition partner would be removed to continue the understanding between them.

Addressing a press conference at the Muslim League House, Iqbal said that all the state institutions had the realisation that national solidarity and joint efforts were required to steer the country out of economic crisis and establish peace and stability.

He said that policy of reconciliation for national development and the Charter of Democracy were the foundations of the coalition with PPP. "An effective coordination mechanism for engagement with the coalition partners also exists to resolve the issues," he said, while responding to a query.

Tensions between the PPP and the PML-N have been simmering for months. It surfaced again on Sunday when PPP Spokesperson Shazia Marri expressed frustration over the federal government's "continuous habit of making decisions" without taking PPP into confidence.

She warned that if her party was kept on the sidelines, it would lead to the collapse of the federal government. "The day we withdraw our support, this government will no longer stand. Perhaps the PML-N does not fully realise this," she added.

Iqbal elaborated that the PPP and the PML-N and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) were the coalition partners in the federal government. Small disagreements among allies do happen but "Our understanding with the PPP is continuing. Whatever reservations the PPP has will be removed."

Iqbal said that there was "no nexus between the establishment and politicians" in the country, adding that the outcome of what the establishment experienced in 2018 had come out, and it was no less than the tragedy of 1971 – the separation of the formerly East Pakistan.

The minister fired a broadside against the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founder Imran Khan, accusing the party of attacking the military installations on May 9, 2023 and trying to create instability in the country through spreading lies on social media.

"Both the PPP and the PML-N had kept fighting the establishment but neither party crossed the red line. It was the PTI, which changed the style of politics by attacking every military installation on May 9," he said. "The PTI is running a campaign against military personnel on social media," he added.

He said that the previous PTI government, led by its founder crashed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with a controversial statement of a minister. "That government caused losses of several hundred billion of rupees to the country.

Speaking about various cases against the PTI founder, he said that Imran used to ask his political opponents "to show receipts, and now his own receipts have turned out to be fake". Imran sold gifts, he said, adding that he would "come clean only when he showed the receipt".

Iqbal said that the PML-N was all set to start a membership campaign to reinvigorate the party at grass root level in Sindh. "The PML-N has a significant political following in Sindh. The PML-N government served the people of Sindh with landmark development projects and welfare initiatives," he said.

Iqbal said that PML-N, during its past tenures in government, restored peace in Karachi, rooted out the menace of dacoits in the rural areas, gifted the mass-transit project to Karachi, started mass water supply project and took several initiatives for economic and industrial growth.

Highlighting the recently announced initiative of 'Uraan Pakistan', he said that objectives of the project were to reinforce foundations of a sustainable growth through enhancing exports, economic stabilisation, creation of employment opportunities, and revitalising the agriculture sector.

"The Uraan Pakistan sets our national priorities with focus on fast-track growth in exports, realising the vision of an e-Pakistan by establishing digital infrastructure and capacity building, promoting environmental resilience, improving energy, education, health and social protection sectors.

To another query regarding the construction of six irrigation canals, the minister categorically stated that the Constitution contained a comprehensive mechanism for equitable distribution of water resources among the federating units, which ensured that every province got its due share of water.

"Some elements are spreading baseless propaganda on the issue to mislead the masses," he said. "No province can take water from the share of the other one, and the allocated share of all the provinces will be ensured at any cost," he added.

Earlier, during his visit to Karachi, the minister reviewed various projects in a meeting with the relevant Sindh government officials, including the rehabilitation of flood victims, the Sukkur-Multan Motorway and the new Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)