The Sharif-Zardari alliance has not yet reached a ‘give-take’ agreement – 2024-02-19 18:17:42

10 days are going to pass after the election in Pakistan. But the coalition government is yet to reach a final decision on power-sharing between Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N and Bilwal Bhutto Zardari’s PPP. Their meetings repeatedly end inconclusively. Both parties, however, claimed that there had been “significant progress” in the talks.

The PPP and PML-N’s Communication and Coordination Committee (CCC) met for the third time last Saturday (February 17). But there was no agreement on power sharing in that meeting. The two parties are meeting again next Monday.

A brief announcement by the PML-N after the meeting said there had been “significant progress” in the talks between the two sides. The meeting emphasized the need for a ‘strong democratic government’.

Read more>>

Ishaq Dar, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Azam Nazir Tarar and Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan participated in the discussion on behalf of PML-N. From PPP were former Sindh Chief Ministers Murad Ali Shah, Saeed Ghani, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri.

Earlier, representatives of both sides asked for more time to evaluate the proposals discussed in the first meeting last Thursday.

Where the difference is
The PPP promised support to the PML-N in government formation and later prime ministerial elections in exchange for several key constitutional posts, including the president of Pakistan.

Bilwal Bhutto Zardari’s party has announced that it will not take any ministry despite supporting the PML-N to form the government at the Centre.

Read more>>

Sources told Pakistani media outlet Dawn that the PML-N is pushing for PPP-like changes on ministerial issues before discussing constitutional positions. But PPP is still adamant about the previous decision.

A PPP leader said the party has decided to seek the post of Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Senate. But the PML-N seems reluctant. They want to retain the post of Speaker.

Do not trust Shahbaz?
The PPP leader said the reason they are seeking the top posts in both houses of the Pakistani parliament is because the party fears the parliament will not be able to “regain its lost status” under the PML-N.

Read more>>

The PPP leader said the PML-N’s past record in enacting meaningful legislation is not good. Even during the Shahbaz Sharif-led PDM government, the PML-N introduced several laws without prior consultation with alliance partners.

Source: Don
KAA/