Bilawal declines meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: In a notable political development, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has declined a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, despite the request from the federal government following Bilawal’s recent criticism.

Sources revealed that after Bilawal’s remarks, the government reached out with an offer for dialogue, which Bilawal promptly rejected. He clarified that his decision was not driven by personal grievances but by the concerns of PPP voters and provincial governments. He specifically highlighted the PPP’s dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over administrative matters in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Bilawal pointed out that the PML-N had sidelined the PPP in managing these provinces, despite an earlier agreement ensuring PPP’s partnership in governance. He also expressed frustration over the lack of consultation with PPP-appointed governors on provincial affairs.

Moreover, Bilawal criticized the federal government’s approach to development plans in Sindh and Balochistan, citing PPP’s reservations about the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in these regions.

To address these issues, he has formed a committee comprising two chief ministers and two governors, urging the prime minister and federal government to engage with this body for resolution. He also expressed disappointment at the government’s neglect of PPP workers’ and voters’ demands.

On Wednesday, Bilawal announced the formation of the committee, which includes Raja Pervez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmoud, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Hyder, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, and Haider Gilani.

The committee will engage with the federal government to present PPP’s concerns and submit a report during the next meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), scheduled for next month.