ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday held a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, voicing strong reservations over what he described as the “marginalization” of his party within the ruling coalition, particularly in Punjab and at the federal level.
According to reports, Bilawal Bhutto conveyed that the PPP was not being given due importance as a coalition partner by both the Punjab and federal governments. While reaffirming his party’s desire to continue working with the government, Bilawal stressed that doing so was becoming “increasingly difficult” due to what he termed as “disregard for PPP’s role and input.”
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He also expressed disappointment that the PPP’s positive remarks about Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s governance had been met with criticism from within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ranks, rather than appreciation.
The meeting, which included detailed discussions on Punjab’s political dynamics, saw PM Shehbaz Sharif assure Bilawal Bhutto that all concerns raised by the PPP would be addressed. According to government insiders, most of the PPP’s grievances were linked to the PML-N’s provincial leadership, and the Prime Minister suggested that such issues required direct dialogue between the coalition partners.
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PPP representatives further complained that their party was not being consulted on legislative matters in either the federal or Punjab assemblies, creating friction within the coalition. Both sides reportedly agreed to avoid public criticism of each other and to maintain regular communication to prevent further misunderstandings over Punjab-related issues.
Sources said the PPP will now present the outcome of its talks with the government before its Central Executive Committee (CEC), which will decide the party’s next steps in the coalition setup.
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A day earlier, the PPP had accused the Punjab government of withdrawing security from Bilawal House in Lahore, calling the move “politically motivated and irresponsible.” PPP leader Jamil Manj claimed that all police personnel had been removed from the premises for two days, compromising the safety of the party’s leadership.
However, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari and Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb strongly denied the allegations, terming the reports “false, fabricated, and misleading.” The incident added to the growing unease between the PPP and PML-N, highlighting the fragility of the coalition arrangement at a time when both parties are grappling with internal and provincial-level tensions.