Shehbaz consults Nawaz amid political tensions

LAHORE:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and held detailed consultations with him on the country's political situation, security challenges and the economy amid growing tensions between the government and opposition parties.

During the meeting at Jati Umra, Lahore, Shehbaz briefed his elder brother on the law and order situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), taking him into confidence over measures being taken by the federal government to improve security in the province. He also apprised the PML-N president of recent initiatives aimed at the development and prosperity of K-P.

The two leaders also discussed the government's ongoing reform agenda, particularly economic reforms, challenges confronting the country and measures being taken to address them. They held detailed consultations on political affairs and steps to further improve the national economy, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

The meeting comes as the government faces mounting political pressure, with opposition parties seeking greater coordination against the ruling coalition. The PTI's confrontation with the government has increasingly drawn in other opposition parties, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has criticised the government's decision to impose governor's rule in K-P.

The political situation has also prompted reservations from within the ruling coalition, with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari recently cautioning the government against "fighting everyone", including the PTI and Maulana Fazl, and urging it to engage political, social and provincial stakeholders instead of allowing political differences to overshadow the country's pressing challenges.

It is pertinent to mention here that the PML-N has also opened a new political front within its own allied camp, taking on a senior leader of one of its coalition partners over his remarks alleging corruption in Punjab. The episode has strained relations between the two sides for the first time, with the ruling party suspecting that the remarks were part of a wider conspiracy targeting its senior leader, Maryam Nawaz.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also attended Sunday's meeting.

Separately, Federal Minister Raza Hayat Hiraj called on the prime minister in Lahore. The two discussed matters of mutual interest as well as the country's political and economic situation, according to another statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.