Former Prime Minister and Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani has reiterated that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has never been part of the federal cabinet and has no plans to join it in the future. He called on the government to honor its written agreement with the PPP.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, Gillani clarified that while the PPP has supported the government, it has remained outside the cabinet and intends to maintain this stance.
“The government must implement the written agreement it signed with us,” Gillani emphasized, adding that the PPP has raised concerns with the government and ongoing discussions aim to resolve these issues. “Once a resolution is reached, the public will be informed. Dialogue is key to addressing challenges,” he added.
Gillani’s remarks come amid continued political negotiations between the PPP and the ruling government. The party has been pushing for the fulfillment of its agreement, with the next round of talks scheduled for December 24 or 25. These discussions will precede the PPP’s Central Executive Committee meeting on December 26, where the progress will be evaluated.
Earlier talks, held in the National Assembly speaker’s chambers, saw no significant breakthroughs. PPP leaders, including Raja Pervez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, and Syed Kursheed Shah, presented their demands to senior government officials Ishaq Dar and Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
A major sticking point for the PPP is the potential reduction in Sindh’s water share due to a federal plan to divert water from the Indus River to the Cholistan desert. The PPP insists the matter should have been referred to the Council of Common Interests (CCI), which has not convened for 180 days.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation on key issues, including the formation of a judicial commission under the 26th Amendment. This marks the first major rift between the PPP and PML-N-led coalition since the latter assumed power following the February 2024 elections.
