PML-N and PPP Agree to De-escalate Tensions After High-Level Meeting

Following weeks of strained political discourse between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the coalition partners have reached an agreement to de-escalate their verbal exchanges. This decision was made after a crucial meeting involving key figures from both parties, according to statements released early Thursday.

The move towards reconciliation began when the PML-N dispatched a delegation to Nawabshah’s Zardari House. The delegation, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, aimed to ease the rising friction between Punjab and Sindh. Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, also participated in the discussions, seeking ways to defuse the tensions between the two provincial administrations.

Sources indicate that President Zardari urged the PML-N representatives to advise their party members to moderate their increasingly harsh comments. The PML-N delegation, in turn, made a similar request, advocating for mutual understanding and a commitment to considering each other’s perspectives before issuing public statements.

Insiders have highlighted Dar’s pivotal role in resolving the disagreements between the allied parties. The understanding reached is designed to put an end to the series of retaliatory statements that have been dominating the news cycle recently.

In a related development, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has scheduled a Central Executive Committee meeting for October 18 in Karachi. The meeting at Bilawal House is intended to discuss the party’s future political strategy and address the recent disagreements with the PML-N, sources have reported.

Previously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed key figures within his party to address the PPP’s concerns through discussion. He emphasized the importance of preventing political statements from negatively impacting working relationships, according to official sources.

The discord arose after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz made certain remarks pertaining to the province’s water allocation, prompting the PPP to stage a protest in the National Assembly and demand an apology. Maryam responded by stating that she would defend Punjab as chief minister and would not apologize for advocating for her province.

The key takeaway from Tuesday’s meeting is straightforward: both parties are aiming to reduce tensions and maintain open lines of communication. They have consented to prioritize private discussions and reduce public disputes, at least for the time being.