KARACHI; The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to grant the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government more time to fulfil its commitments, senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman announced on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, Rehman said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari briefed party members on the pledges made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during their previous engagement.
“We have decided to give the federal government and the prime minister more time,” Rehman stated. “We will reconvene after a month to assess the progress on those commitments. Based on that review, the PPP will decide its future course of action.”
The CEC meeting was held against the backdrop of growing tensions between PPP and its coalition partner PML-N over issues including flood relief, governance, and water distribution.
Rehman highlighted that PPP played a pivotal role in forming the federal government and passing key legislation, expecting its concerns to be heard within the coalition.
She reiterated PPP’s position that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is a crucial instrument for providing initial relief during natural disasters. She urged that the programme be used to support flood victims rather than being turned into a tool for political point-scoring.
BISP became a source of disagreement between PPP and the PML-N following the devastating floods, as Sindh ministers recommended utilising it for flood relief.
However, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz rejected this proposal, stating that Punjab had sufficient resources to manage flood aid independently.
Calling BISP a globally recognised initiative, Rehman urged its utilisation to assist people in flood-hit areas.
She also drew attention to the widespread damage caused by recent floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh, and noted that the PPP had already extended relief to several affected communities.
“The people of Pakistan are our most valuable asset. Everyone has the right to speak for their needs. We will not compromise when it comes to demanding relief for the poor,” Rehman asserted.
She appreciated the federal government for accepting Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s proposal to provide electricity bill relief to flood affectees.
Additionally, Rehman lauded the Pakistan Armed Forces for their strong response to India’s unlawful strikes in May and praised Bilawal for launching a “diplomatic offensive” following Pakistan’s counteraction, which was commended during the CEC meeting.
