Islamabad, October 9, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday, shortly after leaders from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP agreed to tone down tensions following weeks of public sparring within the ruling coalition.
The contact came hours after a PML-N delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, met President Asif Ali Zardari at Zardari House, Nawabshah, in a bid to ease tensions between the allies. Both sides reportedly agreed to end their public feud and maintain unity within the coalition.
According to a statement issued by the PPP, the prime minister and Bilawal discussed the prevailing political situation, as well as matters related to flood relief efforts and foreign policy.
The rift between the two coalition partners had deepened over the distribution of flood compensation through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The PPP had been pushing for the programme to be used as the main channel for aid disbursement — a proposal opposed by the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The dispute escalated after Maryam accused certain parties of “politicising” the province’s flood crisis. In response, PPP lawmakers staged walkouts in both the Senate and National Assembly, issued veiled threats to quit the coalition, and demanded an apology — which the Punjab CM firmly declined.
In a bid to de-escalate tensions, President Zardari tasked Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi with mediating between the two sides. Subsequently, the PML-N team, including National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Naqvi, joined Ishaq Dar for talks with the PPP leadership.
According to sources, President Zardari urged the delegation to advise PML-N leaders to exercise restraint, stressing the need to prevent further discord. The PML-N representatives reportedly echoed this sentiment, agreeing that both sides should consult privately before issuing public statements.
Insiders credited Deputy PM Ishaq Dar for playing a key role in defusing tensions. The understanding reached between the two parties aims to halt the cycle of confrontational statements and restore working harmony within the ruling alliance.
