Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Information Secretary Shazia Marri said on Friday that the party is not strong-arming the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the center of the federal budget.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb earlier this month proposed the budget for the next fiscal year starting July 1, but the PML-N’s main ally, the PPP, strongly opposed the proposal.
Party leaders said that PML-N took a single flight to prepare the budget, while others were not discussed with the PPP regarding financial plans.
After communal differences and the day ended, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari held a budget meeting in Islamabad.
Sources said the PPP chief had voiced concerns but assured the prime minister that he would smooth the passage of the budget, while Chief Minister Shehbaz said he would address the concerns of his allies.
“DHP believes in dialogue and we will hold meetings in the future. We are not blackmailing anyone, we are conveying our problems politely,” said the MP, expressing his party’s concerns about the federal budget.
Rana Sanaullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, responded by saying that the meeting between the two leaders was held in a “pleasant atmosphere” and discussions were held on all issues related to the government.
“Two committees have been formed. The committees will meet soon and everything will be resolved through mutual understanding,” said Sanaullah.
PPP does not adopt ministries but is an important part of government. “The federal and Punjab budgets were also discussed in the meeting,” he said.
‘Not blackmailing’ PML-N on budget: Shazia Marri
