Zardari, Dar and Naqvi come together to put out political fire between PML-N and PPP

President Asif Ali Zardari met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to discuss the political situation, as tensions continue to simmer between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The PPP and PML-N leaders in Punjab have been engaged in a war of words in recent days over issues ranging from flood compensation to water rights linked to the Cholistan canals project.

The PPP, which governs Sindh, expressed strong displeasure over the remarks made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, whose party leads the coalition at the federal level.

Amid growing friction, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Zardari have launched efforts to calm tempers and restore political harmony. The President, according to sources, also urged Naqvi to help facilitate dialogue between the two sides with a view to possible rapprochement.

A statement issued by the President’s Secretariat on Wednesday evening confirmed that President Zardari held a meeting in Nawabshah with Dar, Naqvi and Sadiq.

“The leaders discussed issues relating to the overall security and political situation in the country, as well as recent regional and international developments,” the statement said.

It added that Dar, who recently represented Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly and held meetings with several foreign dignitaries, briefed the President on his commitments and shared his ideas on “urgent global and regional issues”.

Meanwhile, in another development, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has convened a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee. “Important decisions regarding national policy will be taken at the PPP central executive committee meeting,” an article on X said.