LAHORE, Apr 21: Aiming to resolve some of the contentious issues, officials of Pakistan’s two ruling coalition partners, the PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz) and the PPP (Pakistan People’s Party), met in Lahore regarding power sharing in Punjab province.
The senior leaders of both parties met in Lahore at Governor’s House to sort out differences on various contentious issues, particularly those concerning the local government elections and the farming community in Punjab. After making some headway, the two parties are expected to meet again in a few days’ time, according to Dawn.
The Lahore meeting marked the fifth sitting of the coordination committees of both parties. The participants included PM’s political adviser Rana Sanaullah, Punjab Asse mbly Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan, Punjab’s Senior Minister Marri yum Aura ngzeb, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who joined the meeting through a video link.
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, former PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Ali Haider Gilani, and Hassan Murtaza represented the PPP.
PPP leader Hassan Murtaza in his media address after the meeting, said that despite all the reservations, the two coalition partners had decided to go together, keeping in view the existing conditions in the country. He said his party pressed for local government elections and underscored farmers’ concerns.
“The PPP has strongly advocated for the immediate scheduling and conduct of local government elections in Punjab,” he said, emphasising that this demand emerged from the party’s commitment to grassroots democracy and the empowerment of local communities.
The PPP leader expressed reservations regarding the current local government bill, arguing that it lacked the fundamental democratic spirit.
“It contains the potential for political victimisation of individuals,” he said, calling for amendments to the bill.
The PPP leader also highlighted the plight of sugarcane farmers in the province, asserting that they had been denied their rightful share, urging Punjab Chief Minister Mariyam Nawaz to immediately address the issue and give fair compensation to the farmers, Dawn reported.
In addition, he said that the establishment of two universities – one in Gujjar Khan and another in Pind Dadan Khan – was also taken up during the meeting and the PML-N representatives promised the PPP side to meet again next week with some workable solutions regarding these issues.
Regarding the controversial canals project, PML-N leader Ahmed Khan said that it would be better discussed within the framework of the country’s IRSA (Indus River System Authority) Act.
The PML-N leader added that a universally accepted formula for water distribution already existed, and that both Punjab and Sindh should adhere to this formula to utilise their respective share of water.
He said that the issue should be looked at from a technical perspective instead of being politicised.
(UNI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
