President, PM pledge joint efforts for national progress

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Pakistan’s development and decided to pursue legislative reforms through consensus among all political stakeholders. 

The two held a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday, attended by key figures such as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Naveed Qamar. 

Shehbaz Sharif extended well-wishes for the President Zardari’s health while both leaders engaged in dialogue on the country’s political, economic, and security challenges. 

The president and prime minister also discussed the ongoing legislative matters in the Parliament. President Zardari assured Prime Minister Shehbaz of his full support in fostering stability and progress for the country. 

Ahead of the meeting, sources speculated that the president and prime minister would deliberate on key political challenges, including the strained relationship between the two ruling coalition partners.

The high-level discussions are also expected to address power-sharing dynamics between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as well as concerns raised by the PPP regarding their political role in Punjab. 

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The discussions precede a coordination committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the Punjab Governor House.  The committee meeting will bring together senior leaders from both parties. The PPP delegation will include Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Hassan Murtaza, Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood, and Ali Haider Gilani, while the PML-N team will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, accompanied by Rana Sanaullah, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Malik Ahmad Khan, and Marriyum Aurangzeb. 

The agenda includes addressing local-level challenges faced by the PPP in Punjab and reviewing their longstanding grievances about being sidelined in decision-making processes. 

This development comes weeks after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari voiced dissatisfaction over the government’s lack of consultation with his party. He cited concerns about equal representation in the judicial commission and unmet commitments, leading to tensions within the coalition. 

Shehbaz Sharif, in response, tasked Ishaq Dar with initiating dialogue to address PPP’s reservations. Both parties have since agreed to engage in a series of negotiations, aiming to resolve disputes and strengthen their partnership. 

Political analysts suggest the outcome of these discussions could significantly influence the coalition’s stability and its ability to tackle legislative priorities, including the contentious Madrasah Registration Bill.

It should be remembered that President Asif Ali Zardari warned potential global implications over the Madrasah Registration Bill (Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024).

He refused to sign the bill — passed by both house of parliament in October — and returned it to the Prime Minister Office, highlighting several flaws and procedural errors, contradicting the existing laws.