The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has given the government one month to fulfill its promises.
A meeting of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee was held under the chairmanship of Bilawal Bhutto, during which tensions between the Punjab government and the PPP were discussed.
Party members from Punjab expressed their reservations, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari briefed them on his meetings with the Prime Minister and federal ministers.
President Asif Zardari also took the party into confidence regarding his conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in Nawabshah.
The meeting also reviewed the overall political situation in the country, including tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Sherry Rehman said that the Karsaz tragedy was the biggest attack on any political party, and the PPP has always stood as a strong wall against terrorism. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces. The PPP fully understands all challenges related to terrorism.”
She stated that the PPP has always opposed terrorism and consistently raised its voice against it. “We are united in our stance against terrorism, and the PPP’s position has always been clear. Right now, terrorism is ongoing in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
Sherry Rehman also remarked that the waiving of electricity bills for flood victims is commendable, and it was Bilawal Bhutto’s demand that these bills be waived. “Wherever the floods hit, we demanded relief. Bilawal Bhutto visited the affected areas and distributed aid. We appreciate the federal government for accepting Bilawal’s proposals.”
She further stated that Bilawal Bhutto discussed the Benazir Income Support Program and that the federal government should consider his proposals for flood-affected people. “It is essential for us to tackle poverty in the country.”
Sherry Rehman said Bilawal Bhutto also briefed the party on his meeting with the Prime Minister. “The PPP has always supported democracy. We didn’t ask for any privileges. We have given the government one month to implement the promises made. Where promises haven’t been fulfilled, we discussed giving the Prime Minister some additional time. We will review the implementation of those promises in next month’s meeting.”
PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan said, “A promise was made to introduce a Local Government Act in Punjab, but we have reservations about the current system. We discussed the electricity crisis and agricultural reforms. The Punjab government has not fulfilled its promises regarding wheat and sugarcane crops. We stand firm on our demands and will meet again after one month.”
“The way the workers offered their lives as a shield and protected the leaders during the Karsaz tragedy is a debt upon us, which we can never forget. At the same time, the flood victims are in dire need of aid right now. In this regard, we have not only demanded that relief be provided to them, but we have also delivered aid to all the areas affected by the floods – from Gilgit to Punjab. We stood shoulder to shoulder with the victims in this regard, and we will continue to do so.”
“The Deputy Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Assembly themselves came to the President, and it is our tradition that when someone comes willingly, they are given respect. That is why the Pakistan People’s Party has refrained from making statements. However, we still stand firm on our principles, and wherever there are issues, we will speak about them.”
Senior Provincial Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said: “We have reservations about the local government system currently being introduced in Punjab, and we will discuss this with the government. Besides that, we have some concerns regarding the economic situation, agriculture, and the floods – and these are not just our concerns, but the problems of the people. To address these issues, the Prime Minister has requested a meeting with our party leadership.”