KARACHI: The PPP made the decision on Monday to work with all parties, including its competitor PTI, in order to promote national agreement on important topics including security, the digital economy, and agriculture, amid rising political tensions at the center.
At a meeting held at Bilawal House, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari instructed the PPP’s Rabta committee to consult with political parties in order to ascertain what topics could be the subject of a political agreement.
According to the directive, the Rabta committee’s mandate—which was created to examine the PML-N’s unfulfilled promises—has been significantly broadened.
Given that committee members at the meeting cited the federal government’s “lack of timely consultation” on political, policy, and legislative matters as a major barrier that needs to be addressed, it appears that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s main ally has stepped up its efforts to interact with opposition parties in parliament in order to make its case more forcefully.
The “Rabta committee” is tasked with contacting all parliamentary parties to determine what topics can be reached by political compromise.
Members [of the Rabta committee] recapped their “ongoing and unresolved issues from Punjab, south Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh as well as political, policy, and development challenges at federal level,” according to a statement released by Bilawal House after the meeting.
There was a thorough discussion of policy topics such flood restoration, water management disputes, difficulties facing the agricultural and digital economies, and public interest laws. Key issues that needed to be addressed included misgivings with the federal government, a failure to follow agreements, and a lack of prompt consultation on political, policy, and legislative topics.
According to the statement, the summit took note of the recent rise in terrorism and the lack of a fresh agreement to address the new difficulties brought on by the realities on the ground.
“To present recommendations before the Party’s Central Executive Committee later this month, the PPP chairman instructed committee members to interact with political parties to ascertain what issues can be reached by political consensus,” the statement continued.
In a clear message to PM Shehbaz Sharif that the PML-N could no longer receive such unwavering support, the PPP established a high-level committee a few weeks ago to address the issues with Islamabad after growing frustrated with what it sees as ongoing “disrespect” and “unmet commitments” despite being a crucial ruling coalition partner.
Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmoud, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Hyder, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Haider Gilani, and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf are all members of the committee.
One person at the party meeting offered their thoughts on the committee’s strategy for interacting with all parliamentary parties. The PPP leader stated, “We have always engaged with all parties, whether it is PTI or any other, on every significant issue or those that require national consensus.” We will consult with everyone this time as well. The topics of discussion during the meeting are of national significance and are not party-specific.
As examples, the leader cited the digital economy and the escalating crises in the internet industry.
The PPP leader emphasized the need to solve these issues in light of contemporary technology, saying, “The internet problem in the country is not only becoming a nuisance for every Pakistani, but it’s also causing embarrassment on the global stage.”
