Political issues: Bilawal wants to evolve consensus with other parties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday directed the members of party’s political coordination committee to engage with political parties to determine on what issues political consensus can be formed and present recommendations before the Party’s Central Executive Committee later this month. The coordination committee met at Bilawal House under the Chairmanship of Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to coordinate and prioritise responses to ongoing political challenges.

Members recounted their ongoing and unresolved issues from Punjab, South Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh as well as political, policy and development challenges at the federal level. Policy issues such as flood rehabilitation, water management controversies, challenges to the agricultural and digital economy, and public interest legislation were discussed in detail.

On reservations with the federal government, lack of timely consultation on political, policy and legislative matters, and inability to implement commitments were identified as key stumbling blocks to be addressed. The members also noted the growing surge in terrorism in the country and the absence of a new consensus to combat the new challenges resulting from new ground realities.

Earlier, Bilawal arrived in Islamabad from Karachi on Monday and spent a busy day holding a separate meeting with Senator Faisal Vawda, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, PPP Presidential Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha and General Secretary Shazi Khan, Governor Gilgit Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah and Former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.

In his meeting with Senator Faisal Vawda, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto discussed the current political situation and the crisis arising from the politics of hatred and division. In his meeting with Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi at Zardari House, the governor briefed him about meeting with the Grand Jirga regarding peacemaking at Commissioner House, Kohat and the All Parties Conference to be held in Peshawar on December 5 on terrorism and unfair distribution of resources. President PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha and General Secretary Shazi Khan also held a meeting with Chairman Bilawal and informed him that the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was deteriorating. Later, former prime minister and President PPP Central Punjab Raj Pervez Ashraf also held a meeting with the Chairman and briefed him on party affairs in Punjab.