PPP’s Discontent with the Government: Key Issues and Attempts to Resolve Disputes

Islamabad:Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been at odds with its coalition partner, **Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)**, since the general elections, despite having formed a government together with several other political parties including the **Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)**, **Q-League**, **IPPs**, and others.

However, the largest party in the ruling coalition, the **Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)**, has expressed its concerns by refusing to take up ministries, stating that it does not wish to be a part of the government. This stance has intensified as **MQM**, **Q-League**, and other smaller parties have retained positions in the federal cabinet.

### **Shazia Marri’s Strong Warning on Government Support**

A few months ago, PPP’s senior leader **Shazia Marri** publicly warned that should the party decide to withdraw support for the government, it would come to an end. She revealed that PPP had met with PML-N representatives **four times** to discuss and resolve these concerns, but as of now, the issues remain unresolved.

In a bid to understand the nature of PPP’s grievances, **V News** reached out to various sources within the party and government.

### **Key Issues Raised by PPP**

1. **Pakistan Maritime and Ports Authority (PM&PA):**
One of the most significant issues raised by PPP was the establishment of the **Pakistan Maritime and Ports Authority**. PPP expressed concern that they were not consulted beforehand on this matter, and the lack of consultation has caused considerable discontent within the party.

2. **Punjab Power-Sharing Formula:**
Another major issue lies in the **power-sharing formula in Punjab**. Sources within PPP suggest that there are ongoing disagreements with PML-N regarding the distribution of power at the provincial level. The dissatisfaction with how the power balance is being managed in Punjab has been a sticking point in the coalition’s relationship.

### **Government’s Attempts to Resolve the Disputes**

According to **government sources**, a meeting was held at the **President’s House** where **Vice Prime Minister Ishaq Dar** met with **Asif Ali Zardari** and **Bilawal Bhutto Zardari** to discuss these concerns. Despite these discussions, no substantial resolution has been reached yet.

PML-N is optimistic that these issues can be resolved by **mid-January 2023**, and has requested PPP to give them until the second week of January to finalize the resolution process.

### **Cameron Zaman Kaira Clarifies PPP’s Position**

PPP’s senior leader **Qamar Zaman Kaira** clarified that **PPP has not presented any new demands** to the government. He emphasized that the party’s demands are the same **25 conditions** presented before the government was formed, which were promised to be fulfilled. These conditions primarily involve matters related to **provincial governance** and **administrative issues**.

Kaira’s statement underscores that the party’s expectations from the government have remained consistent, and they now seek a commitment to fulfilling these longstanding promises.

### **Shahbaz Sharif’s Efforts to Keep Allies Satisfied**

In a special conversation with **V News**, **Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry**, a prominent member of **PML-N**, highlighted Prime Minister **Shahbaz Sharif’s** determination to ensure that no ally feels dissatisfied with the coalition. He explained that **Shahbaz Sharif** is particularly cautious about keeping the coalition intact, which is why **Ishaq Dar** has been tasked with leading a committee dedicated to listening to the concerns of the allies and addressing them promptly.

Dr. Chaudhry mentioned that the committee has already met with PPP representatives and is actively working to resolve their concerns. He also acknowledged that while it is difficult for every issue to reach unanimous agreement, regular discussions are held to resolve any disagreements through **negotiations**.

### **Conclusion:**
As PPP and PML-N continue to grapple with internal disagreements, particularly over governance issues at both the federal and provincial levels, efforts are ongoing to find common ground. While PPP remains firm on its demands, the government is working through a series of meetings and negotiations to prevent further friction within the ruling coalition. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether these issues can be fully resolved, or if the PPP will choose to withdraw its support, ultimately shaking the foundations of the current government.