MQM-P delegation meets Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) met the senior leadership on the PML-N, including party president Shehbaz Sharif, during a visit to the former chief minister’s Model Town residence.

Shehbaz, along with Ahsan Iqbal, Saad Rafique, Shah Mohammad Shah, Miftah Ismail, Maryam Aurangzeb, welcomed the delegation which included the party’s Senior Deputy Convener Aamir Khan and former mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar.

Earlier on February 4, the PML-N president invited PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father, former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, to his residence for lunch.

During the meeting, the PML-N and the PPP agreed to make joint efforts and use every option at their disposal to oust the PTI-led government, while the former also promised to give consideration to the latter’s suggestion of moving a no-confidence motion in parliament.

Ahead of the two long marches, one announced by the PPP for February 27 and the other announced by the PML-N and its allied parties under the platform of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for March 23, which the government side did not see as a serious threat to its existence, the two sides mainly discussed joining forces during their respective protests.

During the meeting, the PML-N also agreed to consider the option that it had long refused to entertain — moving a no-confidence motion in parliament.

Zardari has also reached out to the ruling party’s only ally in Punjab – the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

Reaching out to the government ally by the former president not only sent a clear message to the ruling PTI but has given a push to the opposition parties attempt to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from office as the Chaudhry brothers have a reputation as kingmakers because of their political influence behind the scenes.

Read more: Many PML-N leaders to revolt against Sharifs’ dictatorial mindset, Fawad predicts