Key allies encourage PM to take ‘tough’ decisions

Three main ruling coalition partners Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) on Monday assured the government of their support in taking ‘tough’ decisions, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to call a meeting of all the allies to take a unanimous decision on how to overcome both the political and economic crises in the country.

The PM is also scheduled to head a meeting of the federal cabinet on Tuesday (today) where he will take all the members into confidence on the decisions taken by the PML-N leadership in London recently.

A day after returning from the UK and the UAE, Prime Minister Sharif on Monday started consultations with allied parties in the ruling coalition, apparently to apprise them of the decisions taken by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif during the premier’s recent meetings with him in London.

The prime minister met heads of three main coalition parties — Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP, Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of the MQM.

It has been learnt that PM Sharif will soon call a meeting of all the allies in the government to take a unanimous decision on how to overcome both the political and economic crises in the country.

One of the most difficult paths the government is likely to take is the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol and its price is likely to jump by Rs50 per litre. Presently, the government is reportedly bearing over Rs100 billion a month by providing subsidies on petroleum products.

According to the Prime Minister Office, the PM in a one-on-one meeting with Maulana Fazl said national interest will remain supreme while taking ‘difficult’ decisions. He stressed the need for collective efforts of the ruling coalition to provide relief to the people and strengthen democracy in the country.

The prime minister was quoted as saying: “Adherence to democracy and the Constitution guarantee progress and stability of Pakistan.”

He vowed that essential items will be available to people in the market at affordable rates. In this connection, all available resources will be utilised, he added.

Both leaders thoroughly discussed the prevailing economic and political crises confronting the government.

Meanwhile, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who is presently in London with Nawaz Sharif, said on a private TV channel that the government should not be afraid of the situation and take it head-on. “If we do not tackle the acute economic situation today, will angels descend to rescue us,” he questioned.