PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has left for London to meet the former prime minister and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif. Bilawal’s visit to London comes as Nawaz Sharif’s brother Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially formed his federal cabinet.
Confirming Bilawal’s departure, PPP Secretary-General Farhatullah Babar told the media that Bilawal will meet Nawaz Sharif to congratulate him. He will also discuss the prevailing political situation in Pakistan with the PML-N supremo.
“The main purpose of meeting Nawaz Sharif is to congratulate him on the coalition government and discuss the current political situation,” Farhatullah Babur said.
Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 34-member cabinet took oath. However, Bilawal, who is tipped to become the next foreign minister did not take the oath. According to reports, PPP is unhappy with Shehbaz Sharif’s failure to include the Awami National Party (ANP) and Mohsin Dawar, an MNA from North Waziristan district, in the federal cabinet.
Read more: Here are Pakistan’s new federal ministers
Therefore, before taking oath as the foreign minister, Bilawal will meet with Nawaz Sharif to take up the issue. In fact, reports state that Bilawal taking oath has been conditionally attached with the provision of ministries to ANP and Mohsin Dawar.
Congratulations and best wishes to the newly formed cabinet that took oath today. It consists of capable individuals. A cabinet with such political strength can do wonders like the 18th amendment. We hope they will work towards restoring and strengthening democracy in real sense.
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) April 19, 2022
Deadlock?
Important to note, PPP called for making Mohsin Dawar a federal minister. PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari advised Shehbaz Sharif to give cabinet positions to all the coalition partners in the first phase. To clarify, before the no-confidence motion, Asif Zardari promised to give ministries to coalition parties in exchange for support.
Both Mohsin Dawar and the ANP backed the then Opposition in the vote of no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Therefore, PPP wants to fulfill its promises.
On the other hand, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of JUI-F, is against Mohsin Dawar joining the federal cabinet. Even Mohsin Dawar admitted this while talking to the media.
Mohsin Dawar revealed that a political party in the PDM — multi-party alliance formed to topple PTI-led government — opposed his inclusion in the cabinet.
“The political party that was objecting to me joining the PDM is also opposing my inclusion in the cabinet,” he said. To clarify, Maulana Fazlur Rehman initially objected to the inclusion of Dawar in the PDM. Interestingly, PPP and PML-N will face a deadlock over the inclusion of Mohsin Dawar in the federal cabinet. Therefore, Bilawal Bhutto will meet Nawaz Sharif to discuss the matter.
Read more: Why did Maulana Fazlur Rehman expel Mohsin Dawar from PDM?