ISLAMABAD; Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday underscored the need for national unity and internal stability to address the political, security, and economic challenges confronting Pakistan.
The meeting came at a time when tensions between the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — the two key coalition partners in the federal government — appeared to have eased after weeks of verbal exchanges over flood relief efforts.
The dispute began when Bilawal Bhutto asserted that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was the “only transparent mechanism” to assist flood-affected citizens, while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz accused the PPP of “politicising” the issue.
Following the escalation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari intervened to defuse tensions. President Zardari also requested Interior Minister Naqvi to help mediate reconciliation between the two sides.
According to a statement released by the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Mohsin Naqvi discussed “matters of mutual interest, political developments, and the country’s overall situation.” Naqvi briefed Bilawal on security and peace measures taken amid rising domestic and international challenges.
Expressing satisfaction, Bilawal said, “The challenges facing the country can only be overcome through unity, consensus, and cooperation.” Naqvi echoed this sentiment, stating, “Everyone must work together to ensure Pakistan’s internal stability and progress.”
Sources within the ruling alliance said that efforts to bridge differences between the PPP and PML-N were making progress. Last week, PPP Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan confirmed that the prime minister had agreed to use the BISP platform for disbursing flood relief and to consult the PPP in related decisions, particularly concerning farmers.
Chan said the agreement was reached during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House attended by a PPP delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. “The prime minister agreed to all our justified and logical demands,” he noted.
Following these developments, the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) met in Islamabad on Saturday and decided to adopt a one-month wait-and-see approach, allowing the federal government time to act on the commitments made by PM Shehbaz.
The meeting also reviewed Pakistan’s internal and external challenges, including recent tensions with Afghanistan, the post-flood recovery situation, and the ongoing economic crisis, underscoring the need for greater political harmony within the coalition government.
