ISLAMABAD: The government’s legal adviser, Barrister Aqeel Malik, announced that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will lead a committee to engage with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and address any concerns they may have about the ruling coalition.
Earlier this week, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing frustration over the “disrespect” felt by his party despite being part of the coalition and unmet agreements between the two parties. However, he maintained that there was no direct rift with the Sharif government.
In an informal conversation with reporters at Bilawal House, Bhutto-Zardari accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of reneging on commitments after the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. He emphasized that politics is about respect, which his party felt was missing.
Speaking on Dawn News’ programme ‘Doosra Rukh with Nadir Guramani’, Aqeel Malik addressed Bilawal’s statement, suggesting there had been a misunderstanding regarding the constitutional package issue. Malik stated that the PML-N had consulted the PPP on increasing the number of judges and extending the tenures of service chiefs, and that raising the number of judges to 34 was a joint decision.
To ease the PPP’s concerns, Prime Minister Sharif formed a committee comprising senior PML-N leadership to engage with Bilawal and his party. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has been tasked with leading this committee to resolve any reservations.
Malik reiterated Bilawal’s key role in the constitutional package, noting that the PPP was engaged in the consultative process and voted for the bill in parliament.
Published in Pakistan Khappay Report Date: November 18, 2024
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