ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)- a major ally of the ruling coalition- has retracted its decision to boycott the parliament’s budget sessions following significant progress in negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has instructed all party members in the National Assembly to attend the budget session. This decision came after the first meeting of the new negotiation committees, formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto, which took place at the Prime Minister’s House.
The PPP’s written proposals on implementing a power-sharing agreement were discussed for four hours, but the meeting ended without a final conclusion.
Sources indicate that the PPP delegation expressed reservations about administrative positions in South Punjab, the non-compliance with the partnership agreement, and the need to increase and promptly release development funds for Punjab.
The government delegation assured the PPP that all its complaints would be addressed. The ruling party’s delegation included Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique, and Malik Ahmed Khan, with Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb participating via video link. The PPP team comprised Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Ali Haider Gilani, and Nadeem Afzal Chan.
To ease tensions between the ruling PML-N and the PPP, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal agreed to continue negotiations at the committee level. This decision followed a meeting on Thursday where both leaders aimed to resolve existing grievances.
During the meeting, Bilawal expressed concerns over the non-implementation of the power-sharing agreement, highlighting issues such as the PPP’s limited influence in Punjab, lack of administrative positions and funds, and the neglect of significant development projects in Sindh in the federal budget.
