In Pakistan, PPP and PML-N discussed coalition differences — Dawn
In Lahore, Pakistan, the coordination committees of the coalition parties PPP and PML-N held a meeting to resolve outstanding issues in relations between the political forces. The talks took place after several months of strained relations, particularly during election campaigns in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. As Dawn reports, citing participants, the meeting was not easy.
Coalition partners’ grievances
The PPP delegation included former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, Hassan Murtaza, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Ali Qasim Gilani. PML-N was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, and Khawaja سعد Rafique.
PPP representatives said that, as a coalition member, the party is suffering significant political losses because of problems in the PML-N government, including high inflation, rising fuel prices, the unresolved crisis in the agricultural sector, power outages, and delays in holding local elections.
For its part, PML-N argued that PPP behaves more like an opposition force than a coalition partner and uses public problems for political gain. PML-N representatives also said that the government has limited influence over such factors as petroleum product prices and inflation.
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Agreements after the dispute
According to one participant, heated discussions arose during the talks, but the sides later calmed down because they have no other choice but to continue cooperating as political guarantors of the system.
PML-N invited Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Abdul Karim to discuss PPP’s concerns regarding police matters and also assured the party of its share in development programs. PPP recalled that previous decisions on these matters had not been implemented.
The sides agreed to implement previously adopted decisions, hold meetings more regularly, work jointly to improve governance, and continue consultations to resolve coalition issues.
