PM Shehbaz, Bilawal discuss political situation over phone

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held a telephonic conversation on Thursday to discuss the prevailing political situation and key national issues.

According to sources, the prime minister called Bilawal Bhutto, and both leaders exchanged views on the current political environment, the flood situation, and foreign policy matters.

This discussion came a day after President Asif Ali Zardari met senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders in Nawabshah, where both parties agreed to stop issuing hostile statements.

President Zardari had met Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. During the meeting, the leaders agreed to settle political differences through dialogue and mutual understanding.

The tension between the two coalition partners had grown after the PPP chairman’s call for international aid for flood victims — a suggestion Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz rejected, saying PPP leaders should “keep their advice to themselves.” She also refused to apologise for her remarks.

In the Nawabshah meeting, which was also attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, both sides discussed grievances, harsh statements, and recent tensions. They agreed to calm things down and resolve matters peacefully.

Earlier, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari announced that a “Chief Minister’s Relief Card” would be introduced to help flood victims so they wouldn’t have to stand in long queues.

She explained that while the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) was established by law, flood victims would now be assisted through the CM’s relief card. She also said that not everything should be politicised.

Speaking at a press conference at the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR), Azma Bukhari praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and her team for their work in flood-hit areas.

“You would not have seen such commitment before. There is no area of Punjab affected by floods where the chief minister has not visited. The chief minister and her team worked like labourers in floodwaters. Our PDMA officer, Abdul Rehman, suffered a heart attack and passed away, while Patoki’s Assistant Commissioner Farhan Ahmed also died in the line of duty,” she said.

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