ISLAMABAD: The purported differences between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP on the budget for the upcoming financial year stood melted on Thursday following PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to assure him of his support for the crucial fiscal bill.
Earlier, on the day of the budget session, the PPP announced to boycott it saying it had not been taken on board over the proposed budget. However, PPP agreed to send three MNAs as a token representation following Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spent significant time addressing their concerns, delaying the budget session for more than an hour.
According to some section of media that the differences between the two sides have fizzled out, with the two allies agreeing to support each other and cooperate on issues of mutual concern. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, said that some “minor” reservations had been expressed by the PPP, which would be addressed by the government through dialogue.
The Minister said the government also set up a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to take up the matter with the PPP and would take the talks forward in light of the meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
A national newspaper reported that Shehbaz Sharif agreed with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on most matters as the latter expressed annoyance with PM for bypassing PPP on budget matters. Bilawal Bhutto also complained that the PPP had joined the government under a deal with which the PML-N led government did not comply.
During the meeting, Bilawal Bhutto told the PM that the PML-N government in Punjab was creating problems for the PPP in the province. Dawn reported that a meeting between the committees of the government and the political party would likely be held today to proceed in light of the PM-Bilawal meeting. Sources said that the PPP is not happy with the privatization plan suggested by the PML-N to reform the state-owned entities. It has also concerns regarding the development budget.
A statement issued by the PM’s Office following the meeting said that a PPP delegation led by its chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met the PM on Thursday. The PM was of the view that the budget would bring some relief to the poor and said that all coalition parties work together.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف سے چئیرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی سربراہی میں پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے وفد کی ملاقات
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف اور بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی قومی سیاسی امور پر گفتگو
بجٹ 2024-2025 کے حوالے سے پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے ساتھ مزید مشاورت کی گئی۔
”معیشت کے حوالے سے… pic.twitter.com/55jA1LBZBA
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 20, 2024
The PPP is the main ally of the PML-N coalition government but declined to join the federal cabinet in exchange for some key constitutional positions, including the office of the president of Pakistan, Senate chairman, and two governors —Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
On Thursday, Shehbaz Sharif in his meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari agreed to address the concerns of the PPP as the PM did not want to “keep the PPP annoyed anymore”.
