Pakistan

Shehbaz, Zardari and Fazl vow to face political challenges in Punjab, KP

Confab in PM House focuses on evolving unity amongst PDM's members

Samaa Web Desk Jan 26, 2023

<p>Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl President Maulana Fazalur Reham in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday, January 26, 2023. PHOTO: PID</p> — Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl President Maulana Fazalur Reham in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday, January 26, 2023. PHOTO: PID

Even though by-elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa (KP) are yet to be announced, the three key parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) have already started focusing on the upcoming polls and leaders of the three major parties of the coalition put their heads together on Thursday.

A summit meeting was held between Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at the PM House on Thursday.

The troika discussed the evolving political situation in the country after the dissolution of the two provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP and the by-polls on the vacant seats of the national assembly.

They also discussed the establishment of interim cabinets in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting was also attended by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Economic Affairs Minister Ayaz Sadiq and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, PPP leader Senator Salim Mandviwala and PPP’s Dr Asim Hussain.

This is the first meeting meeting between three leaders from the PML-N, PPP and the JUI-F since the dissolution of the assemblies and setting up of interim governments in KP and Punjab.

PTI announces protest

On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has announced to stage protests against interim chief minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, accusing him of partisanship towards the PPP and the PML-N.

The PTI chief strongly criticized the arrest of former information minister Fawad Chaudhary on the complaint of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary after Fawad allegedly threatened ECP members and their families.