‘Positive’ progress in talks between Pakistani parties as government seeks budget’s parliamentary approval

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said on Sunday the latest round of negotiations with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party continued in a “positive way” after the PPP expressed reservations about a range of issues following the presentation of the federal budget earlier this month.
The PPP decided to support the PML-N’s efforts to form a coalition government soon after the last general elections in February, though its top leadership announced it was not interested in becoming part of the federal cabinet or getting ministerial posts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari last week to discuss his reservations over the government’s economic and political policies amid efforts to secure a smooth passage for the budget from parliament.
The two leaders agreed to form negotiating teams to discuss all outstanding issues that mostly related to development funds and administrative positions in the country’s most populous Punjab province.
“Different matters were discussed between the two sides, and the talks continued to move forward in a very positive way,” PPP Secretary General in Central Punjab Syed Hassan Murtaza, who is part of his party’s negotiating team, told Arab News after the latest round of talks with the PML-N in Islamabad earlier today.
“We have given all our recommendations regarding the budget, good governance, appointments and transfers [of bureaucracy], funds for ongoing development schemes in Sindh and other areas,” he continued. “We have also urged to release funds for the schemes suggested by the PPP members.”
Murtaza maintained the PPP’s stance and recommendations relating to the federal budget were based on its manifesto that centered on public welfare.
He said the party had also informed the PML-N that PPP leaders must be consulted if the government wanted to make changes to the local government legislation in Punjab.
According to some reports, it was also discussed during the negotiations that an additional secretary be appointed at the chief minister’s secretariat in Punjab, with the sole responsibility of resolving the issues faced by the PPP.
The PPP also wanted a say in the Punjab administration’s decisions to appoint deputy commissioners, district police officers and revenue functionaries in districts where the party boasts active support.
“Now, we will inform our leadership, and the PML-N delegation will consult their leadership on [these issues] before another round of talks is held to move forward,” Murtaza said. “The final decisions will be taken as per the direction of the party leadership.”