ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is set to decide in a meeting today whether or not to continue its alliance with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Punjab, as well as to determine its future course of action following an increasingly sour fall-out with the PPP.
With the extended deadline to implement the PML-N’s 10-point reforms agenda expiring today, the organising committee of the PML-N will discuss the party’s future strategy vis-a-vis the PPP with two crucial issues on the agenda: the fate of the PPP-PML-N coalition government in Punjab and the complete reorganisation of the party.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, National Assembly Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and PML-N chief negotiator Ishaq Dar also held a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, which has set the tone for the PML-N’s meeting being held today.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has recently launched a public contact drive much like an election campaign against the PPP-led coalition government, who views this campaign as a ploy to bring it down. Fanning fires are rumours that the PML-N is set to send the PPP ministers in Punjab packing.
The PML-N has already set the tone for Friday’s decision by bringing onboard several PML-Q dissidents, which resulted in further deterioration of the PPP-PML-N relationship. A PML-N source told Pakistan Today that the party stood divided over its coalition with the PPP. Nisar was leading the group opposing cooperation with the PPP, while Ishaq Dar led those in favour of keeping the PPP in the equation, the source added.
“The meeting between the prime minister and the chief minister was productive and a spirit of accommodation was expressed by both sides,” said another source privy to details of the Shahbaz-Gilani meeting, which took place here at the PM House. Sharif told the PM that details of the discussion held at the PM House would be discussed at the PML-N Executive Council meeting on Friday.
Gilani said that supreme national interests demanded sagacity as well as engagement through dialogue between all political entities of the country to provide a solid base to strengthen democratic institutions. He said that the government had always welcomed suggestions from all quarters to address national issues.
He reiterated the government’s policy of political reconciliation and said that political accommodation would continue as well to overcome challenges confronting the nation. Following the meeting, Gilani visited President Asif Ali Zardari and shared the developments with him.
