Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari arrived at the Model Town neighbourhood of Lahore to a warm welcome at the residence of PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif for a luncheon meeting on Saturday.
However, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry took a jibe at the meeting, saying the Opposition’s defeat in the Senate had brought them together.
PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz and other PML-N leaders welcomed the PPP duo.
Leaders of both parties discussed the political situation in the country, anti-government movement, and future strategy in the parliament.
They also discussed moving a no-trust motion in the assembly, besides agreeing on making a joint strategy for the next general elections in 2023.
The recommendations for making a joint strategy for next general elections was presented by Zardari, which was accepted by PML-N leaders.
The meeting also agreed over using all legal and constitutional options to sent the PTI-led federal government packing.
Later, while addressing a press conference alongside Bilawal, Maryam, and Hamza, Shehbaz said the huddle discussed in detail about bringing a “no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan”.
“There are different opinions within PML-N on no-confidence motion issue,” he said, adding that the final decision regarding no-confidence motion would be made in the next few days after discussing it with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.
“If we want to save this country from more destruction, then we will have to get rid of this government,” he said.
Bilawal said he has discussed his party’s strategy against the government with Shehbaz and other PML-N leaders present in the meeting.
“We discussed matters in detail. We came to a conclusion that a decision [with regards to ousting the government] is very crucial, given the burden of rising inflation on the masses.”
He said despite PPP’s differences with PML-N in the past, the party is ready to keep them aside “for a greater cause”, adding that a better working relation between PML-N and PPP would pose a danger for the government.
Answering a question about differences with Bilawal, Maryam said differences of opinion exist between political parties, but “we are ready to unite for the people.”
Earlier on Friday, Shehbaz had extended the invitation to the PPP leader under the direction of Nawaz Sharif. He had called Bilawal to invite him over luncheon to chalk out a strategy against the government.
Defeat brought Sharifs, Zardaris together: Fawad Chaudhry
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday slammed the PML-N and PPP, saying the Opposition’s defeat in the Senate had brought them together.
The Senate had last month passed the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2021 amid an outcry from the Opposition, where they enjoy a majority.
“The humiliating defeat that they suffered in the Senate has resulted in today’s meeting and they will face similar defeats in the future,” Chaudhry said in a press conference from Beijing shortly after PML-N and PPP decided to use “all options” at their disposal to oust the government.
The information minister said with time, the “desperation of Pakistan Dheelidhali Movement” is increasing, and they have started to lose patience.
“They believe they might face defeat in the next elections. Therefore, they have decided to join hands and contest elections,” Chaudhry said, assuring the Opposition that the government would defeat them even if they unite.
The information minister said whenever any government seeks to bring the “money they have stashed abroad or try to put a stop to the crimes they commit”, the Opposition starts coming together.
“We have time and again reiterated that this is a gang of criminals.”
Chaudhry said PM Imran Khan is the most popular leader of the country and the incumbent “does not care” about the Opposition parties uniting to oust his government. “It has never bothered us in the past, and neither will it bother us in the future.”
The information minister said the prime minister was currently working for Pakistan’s foreign policy — as he is in Beijing on a four-day visit.
“The dream he had envisioned of a Naya Pakistan will come true” as the government is working on all fronts for the country’s progress, he added.
