Cracks in ruling coalition?

Swat: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday dared the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and other government allies to go for elections.

Addressing a public gathering in Swat, PPP chairman said that his party is ready to face the general elections and they must be held on time. “We are inviting the PML-N and other allies to come into the elections.

The PML-N must show some courage to contest the polls,” Bilawal said, while addressing a large public gathering in Swat.

Speaking to PPP’s workers, Bilawal said that they must be prepared for general elections. I ask my workers to start preparations for the polls from tomorrow and don’t wait for the formal announcement, said Bilawal.

“میں سوات کے عوام سے کہنا چاہتا ہوں کہ آپ کل کا انتظار نہ کریں بلکہ آج سے ہی پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی جنرل الیکشن کیلئے انتخابی مہم کا آغاز کردیں۔”
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی اور وزیر خارجہ بلاول بھٹو زرداری #SwatWelcomesBilawal@BBhuttoZardari
4/4 pic.twitter.com/trF8JAFjHD

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) June 17, 2023

“PPP won the Local Government polls in Sindh and we got elected our Mayor in Karachi. Similarly, PPP will also win the next general elections held in the whole country,” PPP chairman said.     

Showing his reservations on the federal budget, Foreign Minister revealed that the PPP will not vote for the finance bill if their suggestions were not taken seriously.

According to Foreign Minister, the PPP has very low input in the federal budget presented by Ishaq Dar and therefore a high-powered delegation of the party went to meet the Prime Minister to express their reservations.

“We believe that ample funds are not allocated in the budget for the flood victims despite the fact that massive destruction was seen in parts of KPK and Balochistan,” Bilawal said. He was of the view that no fund was allocated for the flood victims of provinces and therefore we have severe reservations over this budget.

The Foreign Minister added that the Prime Minister himself visited the flood victims and saw massive destruction there but it is really unfortunate that funds were not allocated for their rehabilitation. “I request the PM to fulfil his promises made with the flood victims and they must be given priority in the budget,” Bilawal said.

Earlier, addressing the workers, PPP Chairman said that they removed a ‘puppet’ and ‘selected’ Prime Minister through no-trust motion. Now, there is a dire need to end the political terrorism as well, said Bilawal.