ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Friday that the time for political dialogue with the government was over.
His statement came only a few days after Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that the government was always open to national dialogue since such political conversations were essential to democracy.
The PPP chairman also denied that there were any differences within the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance.
"The PDM has decided that leaders of its constituent parties will receive resignations [of their lawmakers in the national and provincial assemblies] by 31st December," he said. "The Pakistan Peoples Party is also part of that decision. I have been receiving resignations one after another, and I will have all of them in my pocket before the deadline."
Bilawal criticized those who thought that PDM factions would stop questioning the establishment's role in politics, saying such individuals were wrong in making that assumption.
He said that the establishment would not only have to stop propping up the current political administration but also end curbing dissenting voices.
"As long as this does not happen, no PDM faction will abandon this cause," he added.
The PPP chairman made these statements during a media interaction after his meeting in Lahore with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Sharif.
Analysts have speculated that the PPP would not resign from national and provincial assemblies since its administration runs the province of Sindh.
"I am taking the case to the party's central executive committee that we should sacrifice our Sindh government and National Assembly seats if it can send this government and its facilitators home," he said in response to a question about how far his party was willing to go with the PDM's resignation initiative.
Addressing the media, the PML-N vice president claimed that the government was doing its best to reach out to the PDM leadership.
"Their sitting ministers are trying to establish contacts with us," she said. "However, I don't attribute much significance to such efforts or feel obliged to respond."
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said during a media briefing in Islamabad that the opposition was in a state of "panic" since it knew it had entered a "dead-end street."
He maintained that the PDM was forcing people to resign, adding that it would not succeed in putting the government under pressure.
Bilawal says time for political dialogue with government long gone
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Bilawal says time for political dialogue with government long gone
- The PPP chairman shows willingness to sacrifice Sindh administration if it can bring down government in the country
- The PML-N vice president claims sitting government ministers have been striving to establish contacts with the PDM leadership
Pakistan to play India in T20 World Cup, government says
- Islamabad announced boycotting the Feb. 15 match in Colombo to protest the ICC’s exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup
- Pakistan’s government says the decision to play India is taken to protect ‘spirit of cricket and to support the continuity of global sport’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has cleared the country’s cricket team to play India in the T20 World Cup on Feb. 15, the Pakistani government announced late Monday, ending a week-long standoff.
Islamabad announced boycotting the Feb. 15 match in Colombo to protest the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, following Dhaka’s decision to not play matches in India owing to security fears.
On Sunday, ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja arrived in Lahore for talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam as the sport’s governing body strived to save the high-stakes T20 World Cup encounter.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met PM Sharif late Monday and briefed him regarding the outcomes of high-level deliberations held between the PCB, Bangladesh board and ICC representatives, the Pakistani government said on X.
“The Government of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests extended to the PCB by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as well as the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s leadership in securing a viable solution to recent challenges,” the Pakistani government said.
“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”
The BCB earlier thanked the PCB, ICC and all others for their positive roles in trying to “overcome recent challenges,” particularly thanking PCB Chairman Naqvi and Pakistani cricket fans for demonstrating “exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity.”
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish,” BCB President Islam said in a statement.
“Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”
The dispute stemmed from the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland last month after Bangladesh refused to play tournament matches in India. Dhaka’s decision followed the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was bought for $1 million by the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, but on Jan. 3 the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered Kolkata to release Mustafizur without a public explanation but amid regional tensions.
Pakistani cricket authorities subsequently announced boycotting the match against India at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Feb. 15. An India-Pakistan fixture is the sport’s most lucrative asset, generating a massive share of global broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.
“This decision [to play India in T20 World Cup] has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations,” the Pakistani government said.
“We remain confident that our team will carry the spirit of sportsmanship and national pride onto the field as they compete for global glory.”
