LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ministers in the Punjab cabinet will no longer complain about their senior coalition partner – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – on any issue after a ‘categorical’ directive from President Asif Ali Zardari. President Zardari, also co-chairman of the PPP, met the PPP ministers – Raja Riaz, Tanvir Ashraf Kaira, Haji Ishaq, Farooq Ghurki, Neelam Jabbar, Ashraf Sohna and Tanvirul Islam – at Presidency on Wednesday.
According to one of the participants, President Zardari was not interested in listening to any complaint (by them) about the PML-N’s ‘discriminatory attitude’ towards them. ‘The ministers started with their usual complaints that they are being ignored in administrative affairs and they have no real powers,’ said a source. ‘I want to see the coalition last in all the provinces till the completion of its tenure and we will have to let go petty issues to cement it further. What you are saying (about difficulties in Punjab) is right but you will have to live with it,’ the president was quoted as saying. After doing (mis)adventures in Punjab in the form of governor’s rule early this year, the PPP high command has got very careful in handling matters in the most-populated province ruled by the Sharifs.
The ministers also gave feedback to the president of his video address in Karachi in the last month and suggested that he should continue the practice as it had proved instrumental in mobilising party workers and sending strong message to ‘opponents’.
One of them also apprised Mr Zardari of the criticism on him by some quarters.
However, it was unanimously decided that the president should continue the practice (of video address) till a ‘suitable time’ when he could go in public meetings.
The other participants were Interior Minister Rehman Malik, President’s spokesperson Farhatullah Babar, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, State Minister Mehreen Anwar Raja, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Babr Awan and Punjab PPP Secretary General Samiullah Khan.
Another participant informed Dawn that the meeting discussed a media group targeting President Zardari.
Some suggested PPP leaders boycotting its talk shows while the others were in favour of agitating the issue on roads. They were unanimous on continuing voicing against the media group without naming it in party demonstrations.
One of the participants said the PPP being a major political party could effectively handle the group without putting curbs on it........LINK
Tags: zardari,punjab cabinet,Raja Riaz,Tanvir Ashraf Kaira,Haji Ishaq,Farooq Ghurki,Neelam Jabbar,Ashraf Sohna,Tanvirul Islam
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